Adil Najam
The funny part – probably the only funny part – of the entire Raymond Davis fiasco is US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton claiming that “the United States did not pay any compensation” or ‘blood money’ to secure the release of CIA operative Raymond Davis (who had earlier killed two Pakistanis in Lahore and caused the death of at least another two) under the Sharia Law provision of ‘diyat.’ Reminds one of her husband, Bill Clinton’s, famous line that he had smoked marijuana but did not “inhale.”
Not as funny for some, including Ms. Clinton (who, like her husband is also a well trained lawyer and does not inhale), is the fact that whether the US paid it directly or had some fixer of choice – maybe the Saudis (although they deny it) – to pony up the cash it was an arcane and less than endearing provision in Sharia Law that saved this CIA agent’s skin (see images above of court documents, based on Sharia law, detailing the deal and distribution of blood money along Sharia stipulates, paid to victims families – whether by the US or not, but certainly on its behalf).
One wonder’s how all the red state legislatures voting to outlaw Sharia Law in the United States will react to that little factoid.
Personally, I do not find this funny at all: As I suggested yesterday the precedent being set here – on diplomacy, on diyat and blood money, and just for the respect of law – is one that both the US and Pakistan will live to regret.
But so be it. Right now, it is being said that the the family of the third person killed (trampled by a US Consulate car) has also received a hefty payment and possibly US citizenship. Similar Sharia deals were stuck on the US’s behalf with the families of two who Raymond Davis had shot. The nature and structure of these blood money deals with the families are laid out in the court documents above (from Cafe Pyala, where I first saw these). In the case of Faizan Haider’s family, the distribution of Diyat blood money comes to Rs. 100,000,002 (equivalent to US$1.166 Million); reportedly, the same deal was stuck with the family of the other person killed.
According to Cafe Pyala, the distribution is as follows:
Faizan Haider’s Mother: Rs. 33,333,333/-
Faizan Haider’s Wife: Rs.25,000,000/-
Faizan Haider’s Brother No.1: Rs. 7,575,758/-
Faizan Haider’s Brother No.2: Rs. 7,575,758/-
Faizan Haider’s Brother No.3: Rs. 7,575,758/-
Faizan Haider’s Sister No.1: Rs. 3,787,879/-
Faizan Haider’s Sister No.2: Rs. 3,787,879/-
Faizan Haider’s Sister No.3: Rs. 3,787,879/-
Faizan Haider’s Sister No. 4: Rs. 3,787,879/-
Faizan Haider’s Sister No. 5: Rs. 3,787,879/-
I am afraid that unsavory intended as well as unintended consequence of that bargain will soon engulf both in even more headaches.
Here is a parting question for those who may be US citizens and tax-payers: Will the man who sometimes goes by the name of Raymond Davis reimburse the US taxpayers for the reportedly over US$2.25 million paid under Sharia law to save his skin?
16th March 2011, I was sitting in office busy in work… a message received on my cell “Raymond Davis out of jail.Those ****** released him…”. I couldn’t believe this message…. In a confused state of mind I immediately searched news on internet but there was no such breaking news till then … I replied the message …are you sure?? And yes after a while breaking news start coming on net too………I was unable to believe it…I dont know why, some how, I had developed a very strong believe inside that this won’t happen or at least never like this…
I didn’t want to talk, laugh or do anything that whole remaining day….we have multiple projects of USA in our office…I neither wanted to write a single line of code for them, in fact I was so numb and shocked that I was unable to think of any code either……..
I had promised myself to be a part of any protest which comes my way right on the same day if any such incident would happen.…incidentally a friend of mine who is a big fan of a political leader, messaged me that this political party workers are going to protest in front of American counselate in Lahore tonight…
I decided to be part of this protest (which was rather a political protest)….. so when I left office I changed my routine way back to home…as I use public transport so I hired one…the van used to travel fast on its route in normal days……but whats today???…..the van seemed to move at much slower speed than usual as if some evil unseen force had slowed down the time and pace of everything around me…was this van going slow or was I burning inside hastily…….
I hated to see any laughing face on my way…..when I was half way away a fight took place between conductor and couple of passengers…reason for fight was so ignorable and minor but no one showed tolerance for each other…….I felt so pity for my nation where everyone is sitting ready to fight over personal issues but no one is ready to join for common national cause…….
I came across American counselte in Lahore….I wished to see at least some people still there to protest on today’s event….but at first sight I could see nothing but just police men everywhere……they were gathered there like ants, with a sole purpose to protect every CIA agent hidden inside under diplomatic cover……..protecting them as if we are the culprits and inside is the most innocent, naive and peace loving personnel of American secret agencies on mission of saving world from a brutal, inhuman and biggest terrorists of whole world……
Feeling extremely demoralised and ashamed I spitted on a police van and walked ahead still wishing to see some civilian protestors there…..luckily I saw around 30 to 40 people standing outside Lahore press club of the same political party…..I went near and listened to them while they were giving interviews to a private channel anchor…..whenever person giving interview talked something worth, all his party workers started shouting not against the incident but mostly for their political party leader chanting slogans for him to be country’s next prime minister……I wondered were they gathered there for their leader or for Pakistan??…… I could hardly find any common man there just for the sake of protest except very few…. is it very necessary for all of us to come out only on the call and command of any leader????…… isnt there a slight dignity left inside us, a tiny spot of self respect and honour which becomes our hidden leader and force us to leave the comforts of our of rooms?????.…….I could just stand there being a silent protestor…….nothing more….but at least I was there…………!
I went back home from there……tomorrow I will buy sweets and will distribute among my office colleagues and will eat myself too…upon asking I will just say this much…”even my son was born today I would have never distributed sweets……….but I distributed these sweets to let everyone know that now I am also a very proud citizen of this PROVEN LIVING DEAD NATION in every such incident…….it was not the van which was going slow it was my dignity my pride my belief which was burnt to death last night……congratulations now I am also like all of you………..”
================================================== ====================
P.S : I didn’t distribute sweet to my office colleagues but at my heart I want to do it for my whole nation!!!!!!!!!!
Regards
Nasir Hussain
(Now just a Pakistani rather a Proud Pakistani……….)
The Americans have again played into the hands of the fundamentalists. No one gives them more nourishment that USA and its supporters themselves. They may have sneaked him away from Pakistan but they have left behind another great propaganda tool for the extreme. If Americans wonder why the whole world hates them. Maybe it is because of the arrogance that they act with. I am not buying into the right wings propaganda on this but this was the last nail in the coffin for me for American credibility. As far as I am concerned the US is as much an enemy of Pakistan as the Taliban and its supporters. Both be cursed!
I am glad this episode is over!
And I certainly don’t believe a white guy roaming the streets of Pakistan would be stupid enough to become the purposeful killer that Raymond Davis is made out to be. Fact is that in Pakistan there are robbers roaming the streets who would kill you for a freaking cell phone. An American would be sure bounty for them.
CIA needs to get out of Pakistan. Especially from the cities. Davis saga is likely to be repeated if they don’t get out.
Oh, the ‘rule of law’ argument! What law? In a country where the lawyers themselves shovered rose petals on the killer of Salman Taseer?
@Rasheed gets the prize for the most paranoid post..so far.
تم اپنے آپ کو بدل لو، قسمت
آپ سے آپ بدل جائے گی
Shariah Law is evil and barbaric, regardless of who used it or benefited from it. Not sure what point you’re trying to make