LAHORE, July 2: With the recently-published book of former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee Raymond Davis triggering new political storm in the country, Punjab Chief Minister denied his government’s role in facilitating the spy’s escape from the country. American intelligence operative Raymond Davis who killed two Pakistanis on January 27, 2011 in Lahore has penned down a memoir detailing his incarceration and the ensuing diplomatic row between Islamabad and Washington.
In his book, “The Contractor: How I Landed in a Pakistani Prison and Ignited a Diplomatic Crisis”, Davis claimed that former ISI chief Shuja Pasha was clearly committed to ensuring that the deal for his release was successful.
Davis explains that the plan to rescue him by paying blood money hinged on the acquiescence of the 18 family members of his victims and ISI agents applied as much pressure as needed to get them to accept the diyat.
Speaking to media, the Chief Minister said that the provincial government did not pay Diyat for the American national. “Ask those people about Raymond Davis that are mentioned in the US national’s book,” Sharif said.
Shehbaz Sharif categorically denied the PML-N government’s involvement in arranging the safe escape for Davis, who was allowed to leave the country after killing two men in Lahore in 2011.
He said his elder brother Nawaz Sharif was not holding the rein of power at the time of the CIA employee’s escape. “Who arranged his escape from the country? Who paid blood money? Which bank transacted money to the legal heirs of those murdered by Davis? the Punjab government did not know.” “Those whose named have appeared in the book better be asked as to from which account Rs 2.34 million blood money to the heirs of the victims was paid.” He went on to say that democracy is heading towards the right direction. The Chief Minister said the injured of the Ahmed Pur Sharqia inferno were being provided best possible care. He added the burns units across the province were working properly. “Burn centres across Punjab are working,” he said. The book has ignited a new debate in the country, which have raised questions on the conduct of senior government officials and politicians in the matter.-DNA
