Finding missing families of Davis’ victims

LAHORE – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday sought reply from the Interior Ministry about the whereabouts of missing families of Faizan and Faheem, victims of Qartaba Chowk killings. According to the petitioner, Malik Munsif Awan, these families went missing after they pardoned Raymond on March 16, 2011 after accepting blood money. On Tuesday, an Assistant Advocate General Wali Khan filed a written statement of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah about the status of missing families.
According to the statement, both families were last reported to be present in the court of Additional District And Sessions Judge Yousaf Aujla at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Later they left the jail along with their counsel Raja Irshad. The counsel had taken them to Rawalpindi, the law minister said, adding that it was likely that the families might be in Rawalpindi. The law officer also referred to some media reports, which said the families had accepted blood money on their free will and they were free to live wherever they wanted.
The law officer requested the court to dismiss the petition.
Meanwhile, a deputy attorney general on court’s query said that the Interior Ministry had sought two-week time to file its reply on the matter, however, the court directed him to ensure submission of the reply by April 19. Awan apprehended that somebody had kidnapped them and kept them in illegal detention. He submitted that according to the media, the families had Rs 200 million with them and their lives could be in danger. He said there were also apprehensions that they were forced to accept blood money for Davis’ release.
He requested the court to summon authorities and direct them to recover the families. He said if footages of close circuit cameras at Kot Lakhpat Jail and calls record on cell numbers of high officials including Rana Sanaullah was obtained, the situation may be cleared. On the previous hearing, Punjab government had expressed ignorance about the whereabouts of the families and suggested the LHC to ask federal government about them. On Friday, the law officer sought time to file report on it.