LAHORE – It was about 3.30am on Wednesday when officials of law enforcement agencies picked up the families of Faizan and Fahim, both of whom were shot dead in broad daylight by US national Raymond Davis on January 27, from their houses.
Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that the officials reached Kot Lakhpat Jail with 19 close relatives of Faizan and Fahim at about 5.30am. Everything was planned and seven beds were ready for the nocturnal guests in the Zardari Barracks, where Davis was being kept, the sources added.
Sources said that the two families talked to Davis and settlement papers were also prepared before the court began proceedings at around 9am. They said that all 19 family members told the court that they had forgiven Davis without any pressure and in the best interests of Pakistan. The victims’ families were then paid the agreed sum in cash in Rs 5,000 notes.
Raymond Davis left the court in a Toyota Prado at around 4.30pm after completing all legal formalities, escorted by a commando, the sources said. They said Davis was taken to the old airport of Lahore where an American plane was waiting for him. He was then flown to the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, sources added.
None of the victims’ family members returned to their residences, which were found to be locked. Sources debunked the various rumours vis-a-vis their whereabouts (some of which claimed they had all flown to the US with Davis) and said they were taken to an undisclosed location by local law enforcement in order to keep them safe from any adverse reactions to the settlement.
Faizan’s cousin Mukhtar told Pakistan Today that he had gone to Sahiwal to attend a funeral and when he returned, he found out that the families had reached a settlement and vanished. “I don’t know where they are and I am looking for them as well,” said a clearly angry Mukhtar. Ejaz, another one of Faizan’s cousins also said he was not aware of the family’s move and was shocked.
