LAHORE – An American diplomat gunned down two Pakistani young motorcyclists near Mozang Crossing, shortly after they intercepted him as he was fleeing after crushing another bike rider to death at Jail Road on Thursday afternoon, eyewitnesses said.
Even after killing three people, the Americans went on the rampage as the US Consulate vehicles also hit and injured over a dozen people who came in their way or tried to stop them when they were escaping from the crime scene.
The killer, identified as Raymond Davis, an undercover US spy who is working as technical advisor at the US Consulate General in Lahore, told the police that he shot dead the boys in ‘self-defence’ as they were robbers. However, police investigators and local residents said the boys were gentlemen and they had no criminal record.
The police have registered two separate FIRs, including one of murder case under Section 302 of the PPC, against the diplomat and are investigating.
The terrible incident sparked anti-American protests in different parts of the city while the religious parties have announced protests today after Friday prayers.
Sources revealed that the police handed over the so-called diplomat to the US Consulate covertly late on Thursday night. However, the city police chief claimed that Raymond Davis was in their custody. Replying to a query, he said no doubt the diplomats enjoyed some immunity, “but I think in case of killings they don’t.”
The police are also investigating as to why the American was carrying arms when he was travelling on the city roads without prior information and armed protection.
According the police sources, two vehicles of the US Consulate (white colour Honda VIT-1.8 LEC-5545 and a land cruiser Parado LZQ-6970) were moving towards Qartaba Chowk from Shadman Crossing when the over-speeding pink colour land cruiser hit a motorcycle at about 2:20pm. Davis was sitting in white colour car and he was following the land cruiser.
As a result, the motorcyclist, later identified as Ubaid-ur-Rahman, 25, a trader in Shah Alam Market, sustained multiple wounds and died on the spot. As the US diplomats tried to escape from the scene, local shopkeepers and passers-by started chasing him.
Source: The Nation