Secret Deal Secures US Killer Release

ISLAMABAD – A CIA operator accused of killing two Pakistani youths was released on Wednesday, March 16, after paying blood money to the families of the deceased and under a secret deal between US and Pakistani intelligence services.

“Raymond Davis has been released after all the 18 family members of the deceased appeared before the court today and confirmed that they have received de’yat (blood money), and forgiven him,” Rana Sanaullah, the law minister for Punjab province, told OnIslam.net on Wednesday, March 16.
“After this confirmation, the court ordered the release of Davis, and he is free now.”
Davis, a CIA operator, was arrested in January for killing two Pakistani youths in Lahore in what he said was self defense. However, his claim could not be proved in police investigations.
The arrest put the two close allies on collision course after Washington protested that Davis has a diplomatic immunity.
Government sources say Davis’ released has been arranged after paying a sum of Rs 200 million (2.3 million dollars) to the heirs of the deceased.
However, one of the prosecution lawyers, Asad Manzoor Butt, claimed that the government officials forced his clients to sign the papers confirming that they had received the blood money.
Some government sources quoted the blood money as Rs 60 million (0.8 million dollars).
Another case against Davis, which was lodged for possessing illegal weapons, was also quashed after he paid a fine of Rs 30,000 (400 dollars).
There are conflicting reports about the families of the dead.
Neighbors of Faizan (one the deceased) say that his widow, Zehra, has already left for the United States after accepting the blood money and a US passport.
Similar reports are on rife about two other families, who were not seen by their neighbors for the past three days.
Sources say that the families have also been provided US passports, which was one of the conditions set by them, because they were worried that they would not be able to bear the public pressure after accepting the blood money.
“Till half an hour ago, Davis was at Lahore airport. Either he has already flown or about to fly to Washington via Afghanistan”, a senior government official told OnIslam.net, wishing not to be named.

Secret Deal

Security and political analysts believe that the release of the CIA agent was secured under a secret deal between intelligence services.
“This all has happened after a deal between the ISI and the CIA,” Najam Sethi, a senior security and political analyst, told OnIslam.net.
Sources say that under the deal, the CIA has agreed not to launch independent intelligence operation on Pakistani soil.
However, the CIA presence in Pakistan will remain, but will act in collaboration with the ISI.
The CIA also refused to share the list of its local and foreign informers on Pakistani soil. It only assured Islamabad that its network will not operate without ISI coordination, the sources said.
“This could not happen without taking all stakeholders into confidence,” Sethi said.
“The army, the ISI, and the Punjab government, all have been working to chalk out a workable formula for release of Raymond Davis.
“This is not a shocking news for me.”
Kamran Khan, a Karachi-based security analyst, agrees.
“This is the result of an underhand dealing between the ISI and the CIA,” Khan said.
“The US has adopted a right way to resolve the matter. Both the CIA and the ISI knew that they could not work without each other. Therefore they have carved out a legal way to resolve the crisis.”
Analysts believe that the Pakistani government and the ISI have managed to get some cogent relaxations against the release of the CIA agent.
“His release has pissed off many Pakistanis, but it is good in the national interest,” Sethi said.

Source: OnIslam