The neglected victim’s brother speaks out

Mashhood-ur-Rehman says he would continue protesting his brother’s death till justice was meted out.

LAHORE:

Mashhood-ur-Rehman, a brother of Ibad-ur-Rehman who was crushed to death by a car that rushed to Raymond Davis’s rescue, said he would continue protesting his brother’s death till justice was meted out.

Mashhood was taken aback by the cold shoulder political parties had given to his protests.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mashhood said he had invited representatives of Jamaat-i-Islami, Tehreek-i-Insaaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to participate in the protest he had organised in front of the American Consulate on Sunday.

He was surprised when all the groups ignored his call. “It seems that the political parties have realised that the issue is no longer media-worthy now that Davis has left,” he said.

Mashhood said Ibad-ur-Rehman’s Friends (IF) had been formed after his brother’s death and would protest his death every Sunday from 3 pm to 5 pm in front of the American Consulate till the killer was arrested. He said they only wanted to hold peaceful protests.

“Why can’t the government apprehend the killer? Does he enjoy  immunity?” he said. He said his brother’s death was being ignored and this showed that political parties pursued their own vested interests.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.