Raymond Davis case: The forgotten victim

Family of bystander who was crushed to death yet to get justice.

LAHORE:

The heirs of Ibadur-Rehman, the man who had been crushed to death by a would-be rescuer of Raymond Davis, are being neglected by all political parties, even those seeking to capitalise on the Davis affair, claimed Mashood-ur-Rehman, Ibad’s younger brother.

“Political parties do not care whether my family will get justice or not,” said Mashhood in an interview with The Express Tribune. “Politicians are working for their vote bank.”

He said that the poor masses of this country were disappointed whenever they needed the assistance of ruling parties. Lashing out at the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, he said that Sharif routinely left for abroad whenever sensitive developments occurred in the country.

When asked whether they would make a deal if offered, he adamantly claimed that they would never do this as did the families of the other  victims. He said that they would never sell our brother’s blood and would fight till the last drop of their blood.

Mashhood said that their family decided to protest on the streets and will remain on the streets till they were granted justice. He said that their mother wept inconsolably for her son Ibad. When asked if his relatives would back him if he comes on roads, he replied that they were united. He claimed that his family members and what he called “all Pakistanis” would pour out onto the streets and join them.

“They would kill us like the wife of Faheem if justice was not awarded them,” he said, apparently alleging that the wife of one of Davis’ victims, who had committed suicide, may have been murdered.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met with Mashhood’s family a few days ago, promising them justice. After the release of Davis, however, Mashhood is not hopeful.

None of the US officials allegedly in the car that killed Ibad have been arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2011.