Davis Case Updates - The Twist

The way Raymond Davis case was going, it was quite evident that this incredibly obvious case would ultimately be twisted and taken into completely different directions. Although, who would possibly have doubt in understanding that the American did in fact kill two people who didn't threaten him in anyway. A bystander died miserably for no reason by a few people in a car that came see that Davis stayed secured and well protected after killing two common Pakistanis. And then the suicide committed by the young wife of one of the men killed by Davis in protest against government's political change in attitude that would set Davis free.

Anyhow, now for the record US Senator John Kerry after his short visit to Pakistan regarding the Davis case things are taking another turn. It is being noticed that there is shift in the US stance from talking about diplomatic immunity to now blood money and compensation. Pakistan's government is worried that bad ties with US would mean heavy losses in aid of many forms, which is why they are suggesting low measures. 

Thus, now it is quite possible that US might apologize for the incident and would pay compensation to the heirs of the victims. Our puppet Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani was the one who urged US to tackle the case by thinking about the family members of those killed and the sentiments of the people of Pakistan who want justice.

On the other hand, it is reported that the all the families of the three victims have unanimously agreed on not accepting any compensation. They want death sentence for Davis. In fact, one of the victim's family refused to meet American Senator John Kerry who wanted to grief on the death of the young man. 

It is so strange that such a big nation like America can't support justice in this case and are going mad to release a man who did in fact commit  crime, which is so obvious. He did kill two men for no reason. Because of him another man died on the road. Indirectly, because of him a young girl who was expecting her first child also committed suicide. It is unfair the way this case is being handled. How can money compensate human life? 

The Dancing Girls Are Out Of Business

The dancing girls in the Shahi mohallah of Lahore also known as Heera Mandi or Diamond market are pretty much out of business now. It is no more a place where the men used to spend their time looking at the dancing girls who were trained in the arts of song, music, dance and seduction. Unlike other markets, this market was quiet in the daytime but was very active in the night.

Mostly, the dancing girls focused on dance and music but a few were involved in the sex trade also. The reason why they are out of work and most of them have left Heera mandi is because of the bomb blasts that took place near the market. They were afraid that there was no security provided to them. Thus, they were forced to close their business and move out.

Some have gone to other areas of city and some have gone to places like UAE and UK. It is doubtful if they would do well if they go for prostitution in the other countries because laws are different there and they could get into trouble. While some who only focused on dance and music are now forced into prostitution because they have no other way to earn money now. Because of poverty and less opportunities to work, most women are saying that they have no choice but to go for prostitution now.  Some of the smarter women opted to work through the internet and they attract affluent clients for their services.

Thus terrorism and security threats have taken their toll on many occupations of Pakistan. 

The Davis Case - Further Updates

It was not enough that an American came and killed two people, hardly co-operated with the investigative teams, ridiculously failed to clarify his exact designation and ID and yes the lavish food that he receives on a daily basis so that he doesn't shed a single inch from his otherwise healthy body - today he is also indirectly responsible for another death.

The third person who died was the widow of one of the bikers whom Raymond Davis shot dead. Shumaila was only twenty-six years and got married six months ago. She committed suicide by intaking insecticides that killed her. She was taken to the hospital by her family where she did happen to talk to media before she died. She told the press that she willingly wanted to end her life in protest against the favorable treatment towards the killer of her husband. She heard that it was quite possible that Raymond Davis would be set free and she wanted to protest against such injustice. Besides she also said that after her husband is dead they have no bread earner in their house as well. The doctors treated her but said she was losing lots of blood and ultimately died. She was buried today.

Another development about this case is that a security official who did not want to disclose his identity said that it has come to light that the two men who were killed by Raymond Davis were actually intelligence operatives. They belonged to the security

 establishment and they found the activities of Raymond Davis detrimental to the national security of Pakistan.

Besides, if we remember the infamous vehicle that came from behind after Davis shot down the two men was out of the picture for quite some time. Now the Pakistani government has barred three more Americans from travelling outside Pakistan because it is believed these people were in the vehicle that crushed a man to death.

So, these are the latest updates. Let's see how and where it will end.

Raymond Davis Might Get Immunity Due To US Pressure

The latest update is that the Pakistani government is under immense pressure from the US government to let go off Raymond Davis. Pakistani government, it seemed was quite ready to grant "diplomatic immunity" to Davis as United States has limited its bilateral interaction with Islamabad and the pressure is building even more.

US expects Raymond Davis to be free in a matter of days now that they have provided some carefully made documents to prove his diplomatic status.

The interesting thing is that Raymond Davis appears to be one of the only few strange diplomats who had such major issues in proving himself to be a diplomat after he committed double murder in Lahore. He was first claimed by the US embassy as a Lahore consulate staffer and was later declared as assigned to Islamabad embassy. He also showed an ID card that proved that he worked for the US consulate general in Peshawar also. 

Now as the time has passed, it has been revealed that  Davis had a military background and was posted with US Regional Affairs Office, which is also considered to be linked with CIA by most analysts.

As per the documents and his confused Identity status, it is being revealed that Raymond Davis was quite an important figure who was on an annual contract with a fee of at least $200,000.

Thus, it is likely that he would be granted the immunity and so much so for whatever happened to him killing two Pakistanis.

The Boy Who Fell Off The Plane

On Sunday, we got to know that an unidentified body of a young teenager was found at the roof top at a residential apartment in Al Faisal Town, Lahore. People reported that they saw a plane flying off first and then they saw a live boy falling off from the sky on to the roof top where he was found dead. His body was all fractured and broken. The skull itself broke and hardly anything survived after falling off from such a great height.

The body was not identified. The boy was seen in the cargo officer uniform. It was said that the boy was hiding on the plane's tyre and planned to go to Dubai hiding in there. But somehow, he got confused and died as a result. It was an Air Blue flight which was going to Dubai. There were reports that when the flight took off the pilot reported that there was a problem in the landing gear but then after some time the problem was resolved.

We just got to know that the boy is a 19 year old boy named Qasim from Lahore. He was a school going student and was missing from a few days as his mother reported that he left for school in uniform with his friend but didn't return for a few days. They were searching for him. Somebody from the airport said, that they found a bag at the airport with a uniform and some books that helped them to identify that the dead boy was in fact Qasim.

His mother denied the fact that Qasim didn't want to go anywhere out of the country. Or perhaps she was unaware of what was going on in his mind. It is a sad situation though. Only the boy himself could have told what was going on in his mind. If he was really tired of the way things were and wanted to run away from this country. Or what is all a joke or some daring stunt he wanted to pull off or was he too inspired by some more. We can't tell. Life seems so unimportant it seems.

Facebook is Back

Well finally the day has come. My sister, who seriously missed facebook a lot these past few days and who I am sure would have protested like anything against all that happened. Anyway, I just got an update on twitter. The court has reversed its order and facebook ban has been removed.

Thus, we will be back to our normal routine :P And nobody would be cheating their way to facebook.I think it will be up by tomorrow.

The following I have taken from BBC News website and the article

PAKISTANI COURT REMOVES FACEBOOK BAN

A court in Pakistan has ordered the authorities to restore the Facebook social networking site.

The court had ordered the blocking of the site after a petition was filed against a competition featuring caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

The petition, filed by a lawyers' group called the Islamic Lawyers' Movement, said the contest was "blasphemous".

Pakistan's deputy attorney told the court on Monday that Facebook had withdrawn the competition.

The Facebook page in question contained caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad and characters from other religions, including Hinduism and Christianity, as well as comments both critical and supportive of Islam.

On Monday, Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court reversed his 19 May order to the Pakistani authorities to block the site.

"Restore Facebook. We don't want to block access to information," Justice Chaudhry told the court.

He asked the government to develop a system to find out how countries like Saudi Arabia were blocking access to "blasphemous" content on the internet.

"It is the government's job to take care of such things, which spark resentment among the people and bring them onto the streets.

"They should take steps to block any blasphemous content on the internet," Justice Chaudhry said.

Last week, Pakistan restored access to popular video sharing website YouTube only after blocking some pages for "sacrilegious content".

Correspondents say that the internet is uncensored in Pakistan but the government monitors content by routing all traffic through a central exchange.

In the past, Pakistan has often blocked access to pornographic sites and sites with anti-Islamic content.

It has deemed such material as offensive to the political and security establishment of the country, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad.

In 2007, the government banned the YouTube site, allegedly to block material offensive to the government of Pervez Musharraf.

The action led to widespread disruption of access to the site for several hours. The ban was later lifted.

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10196141.stm

A boring morning

This is a boring Thursday morning. I haven't slept well in weeks now. And today is a long day at work. I'm waiting for one of my weird clients to come and she is getting late.

As I go through some bollywood tweets, I will write whatever seems interesting.

Just read that was a rumour till a few days back that Dev Anand is dead. But the oldie is alive and finalizing his latest production. Another interesting thing is that Saif Ali Khan will be working with the same guy who casted him in Omkara and gave Saif his biggest hits and amazing recognition as a real actor.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is bring Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor and Priety Zinta in his new movie "Heera Mandi". The movie is of course based on lahore's red light area. Earlier he thought of bringing Madhuri, Rani and Sonam Kapoor for this venture. But people say the final selection is much better and sizzling.

Karan Johar turned 38 and he planned to stay away from the crowds and clutter and decided to be on his own in Manhattan. Like we say, everybody needs some personal space.

Ranbir Kapoor is working on publicity of his new film Rajneeti. He looks handsome as he portrays Rahul Gandhi. He was travelling in train to promote the movie.

The client has not come in as yet. No respect for time man. This pisses me off.