Advocate Tariq Asad filed a petition in IHC after the CIA agent’s recent revelation in his book
A constitutional petition has been filed in Islamabad High Court (IHC) to determine those responsible for CIA Agent Raymond Davis’ release after the CIA agent’s recent revelation in his book regarding his release.
The application was filed by Supreme Court (SC) lawyer Advocate Tariq Asad, while secretary interior, secretary defence, former COAS Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, ex Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Ahmed Shuja Pasha and former interior minister Rehman Malik were made part of the application.
Raymond Davis killed two citizens – Faizan Haider and Faheem Shamshad – in January 2011 in Lahore. The then president Asif Zardari and prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani made efforts for giving diplomatic immunity to Davis, while he was unable to get diplomatic immunity under Geneva Convention.
The application explained that the government and state institutions at that time decided to release Davis through court. The application further said that the secret agencies exerted pressure on the victims’ families to grant forgiveness to the killer. The applicant claimed that when the families of the deceased Faizan and Faheem had not made the compromise, then a secret agency took them into custody and forced the heirs to receive Diyat money.
It is worth mentioning that Davis described this episode in his book ‘Contractor’. A chapter of the book reveals that the interior ministry issued three thousand visas to US residents without any clearance.
The applicant prayed to IHC to summon the concerned officials to determine from which account Diyat money was paid for Davis’ release. The application sought action in accordance with law against those who played a role in this illegal action.