Former Interior Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) leader Rehman Malik strongly rejected the newly published book of Raymond Davis and claimed that it was a pack of lies and conspiracy of Indian agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, Malik said that he has the documentary proof that Raymond Davis was approached by Indian agency RAW's additional secretary called Jagnathan Kumar for writing the book. "The Contractor" in order to malign the Pakistan's premier spy agency ISI, Pakistan military and civilian leadership.
Malik said that Raymond Davis was going through difficult times of his life due to extensive debts and tried multiple times to commit suicide. "Only last year Raymond Davis was under huge debts of $700,000 and his wife Rebecca had taken separation from him and he was dislocated from his hometown, Malik added.
He said that due to his miserable financial condition, Raymond Davis was an easy prey so he was sponsored by the RAW and through a ghost writer the said book was written. Malik said that he is astonished to see how it was possible for a person like Raymond Davis, who was undergoing worst financial crisis, to circulate the book free of cost across the world. The book was spread and circulated across the world in PDF form via internet and WhatsApp only to malign Pakistan.
Malik said that India is continuously hatching conspiracies against Pakistan and Prime Minister Modi is campaigning against Pakistan across the world but sadly Pakistani government is busy in 'Panama Hangama'. He said that all the ministers are deputed outside Federal Judicial Academy to defend the Sharif family, while the country is being pushed towards isolation.
He said, "John Kerry actually requested in person to grant diplomatic immunity to Raymond Davis enabling him to return back home but I categorically denied to the request and informed him that he cannot be given diplomatic immunity because he had been working just as an ordinary employee in Consulate General Lahore. I clearly told him that Raymond Davis had to face the trial according to the law."
Malik maintained that as an interior minister, he had earlier informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister that Raymond Davis can neither be deported nor be given diplomatic immunity. He said that he had already placed his name on Exit Control List (ECL), adding that the president and prime minister were fully briefed on the matter.
Malik also revealed that he was approached by Dr Fozia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who proposed that the government may consider exchanging Dr Aafia Siddiqui with Raymond Davis. It was a good idea to get Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan in exchange of Raymond Davis, but it was subject to the clearance of the court, said Malik. There had been a persistent demand of getting Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to the country, he added. "I had earlier got her two sons recovered from Afghanistan and handed them over to their family," claimed Malik.
He said that with the approval of his leadership, he spoke to John Kerry accordingly who informed that he would take up the matter with Washington and discuss this idea. Malik said that he waited but did not hear anything back from John Kerry on this proposal and it looked as if Americans were not interested in exchanging Dr Aafia with Raymond Davis and no response was made in writing in this regard. In the meantime, a high-level meeting was held in the President House and General Pasha informed the meeting that Americans are more interested to exercise the right of 'Diyat' under Islamic laws for Raymond Davis as per the advice of their lawyers.
He said the high-powered meeting decided that neither Raymond Davis would be deported nor he will be granted diplomatic immunity and they will wait for the decision of the court in this regard, adding that no action would have be taken through any executive order. Malik said that the matter was dealt as per the course of law with the cooperation of the Punjab government duly helped by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior, adding that some communication also took place between the Ministry of Interior and the Punjab government. He said that the Ministry of Interior ensured its full help to the Punjab government and full cooperation was extended to the Punjab government, adding that the American Embassy was forced to produce all the witnesses requested by the Punjab government.
He said that it was a matter of national interest so all the stakeholders decided in the best interest of the country and Punjab government played a positive role; therefore, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif instead of remaining in denial and defensive mood should have proudly accepted his role. No such role was played by the then director general ISI in the release of Raymond Davis as claimed by Raymond Davis in his controversial book, said Malik.
As the matter was decided in the court of law and Raymond Davis was set free neither by Shahbaz Sharif nor by the federal government but the court had decided the matter, he added. Malik said that there should be no negativity on the matter as this incident took place within the territorial and administrative jurisdiction of Punjab and an FIR was registered in Lahore and legal proceeding/investigation started by the Punjab police and the challan was also submitted by Punjab Police.