Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday said that the name of Raymond Davis, an American official accused of double murder, has been put on the Exit Control List (ECL) on the directives of the Lahore High Court (LHC). Malik also clarified that he (Davis) traveled Pakistan on a diplomatic passport.
The Interior Minister was responding to points of order of various senators, who the other day in Senate had called upon the government to try Davis under the law of the land by rejecting all foreign pressure. "His name has been put on ECL today (Wednesday) on the directives of the Lahore High Court and we will follow the court's directions in this regard," Malik said, adding that as the case was sub judice, he did not want to make a headline.
Malik further said that holding an open debate on such a sensitive issue would be inappropriate, as it might affect the ongoing court proceedings. He also dispelled the impression of any rift between the federal and the Punjab governments over the issue, saying that a section of the media was trying to create a misunderstanding between them by airing false news. Referring to a media report, Malik contradicted the news, saying that the Prime Minister did not ask Punjab for release of Davis.
The Interior Minister said that he had contacted Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and assured him that they are on the same page on the issue. "Let's be united and not create division," he urged the senator. Malik said that the federal government would act in accordance with the law. He also suggested formation of a parliamentary committee to probe if any pressure was exerted on Punjab in the case of the US official. The Interior Minister clarified that Davis traveled Pakistan on a diplomatic passport and the visa was issued to him after clearance. He added that Pakistan had signed some international conventions and would respect these laws, while taking any action.
Rejecting the media reports that a file comprising information about Davis is missing, Malik clarified that the file was in his custody. The Interior Minister also disclosed that he had received a message from Hakimullah Mehsud, Chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan for negotiation. However, Malik made it clear that no talk would be held with the miscreants until they surrender and tender an apology for killing innocent people, officials of the armed forces and police.
Referring to incidents of targeted killings in Karachi, Malik said that some foreign elements were involved in the recent waves of killings and the law enforcement agencies had arrested some of them. He said that the nabbed criminals had planned to target the leadership of MQM, PPP, ANP and Jamaat-e-Islami and three journalists. About the unrest in Balochistan, the Interior Minister offered to give an in-camera briefing to the House about the foreign hands' involvement in creating law and order situation in the province.
Malik informed the House that the government was planning to issue electronic arms licenses through Nadra. The Interior Minister said that the government was also planning to set up 'Shuhada' fund to support the families of security forces and civilians martyred in the terrorist incidents.
He reiterated that the government had no plan to amend Blasphemy Laws, adding that neither any changes in the law was being considered nor any committee was tasked to do so. About the killing of a journalist Wali Khan Babar, he said that some arrests had been made and the law enforcing agencies would soon reach the real culprits.