‘Shift Davis to Lahore Fort for better security’

Petitions filed against backdated immunity letters, for directions that investigation to be handed over to the ISI.

LAHORE: A petition filed in the Lahore High Court requests that the court issue directions to the government to shift Raymond Davis to the Lahore Fort and ask the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to conduct investigation of the case.

In his petition, Advocate Rana Ilmuddin Ghazi submitted that there was a danger that Davis might escape from jail since the jail was situated at considerable distance from the city, he be shifted to the Lahore Fort.

He also asked the court that both cases involving Davis – double murder and possession of illegal weapons – be investigated by the ISI.

“He is a trained shooter, a diplomat does not have this kind of expertise,” read Ghazi’s petition.

The petitioner contended that the suspect was spending his detention “as a guest at his Kot Lakhpat Jail ‘cell’ that comprises two barracks and 18 rooms”.

He submitted that Davis had been provided with a mobile phone and TV in jail.

Ghazi said that the US was pushing for Davis’ early release because she feared that he would reveal details about secret US missions in Pakistan and drone attacks.

The petitioner said that America could launch an operation to release Davis or kill him.

According to Ghazi, drone attacks had stopped after Davis’ arrest, pointing to Davis’ role in the attacks.

Petition filed against backdated immunity letter

Another petition filed in the Lahore High Court seeks court directions to the government that Raymond Davis not be moved from Lahore and that no immunity letter be issued by fraudulent means. Barrister Syed Mohammed Jawaid Iqbal Jafree, in his petition, requested the court to issue directions that no Pakistani official issue backdated or forged certificate of immunity for the accused. He also requested the court to direct the government to submit certified copies of all documents and relevant record as soon as possible.

He also contended that the relevant authorities be notified that the federal government had provided them with the wrong name for the exit control list (ECL), Raymond Davis Allen Raymond instead of Raymond Allen Davis. He requested that the court issue directions that Davis’ photographs be provided at all airports and exit points across the country so he could not escape.

He said that the federal government was trying to shift the accused from Kot Lakhpat jail to Adiala jail in order to make his extradition to the US easier.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2011.