Daily Times

It took almost six years for Raymond Davis to normalise his breath before he launched his book full of stories of his bravery, resilience, zeal, emotions and acts in the line of patriotism to uphold the constitution of United States.

After the book became viral on social media just a few days after its release, one is bound to doubt the motives behind its launch. Its objectives seem very clear; ie agitate the masses about the government of Pakistan and other authorities’ decision to spare a murderer; delude the sense of success against terrorism and frustrate confidence of people in their Army and security agencies; create and score the benefits of civil – military rift; highlight socio religious cleavages and their support for extremists’ mindset and last but not the least – to project Raymond Davis as the winner of the episode.

It is also important to relate the publishing of the book, which is done through renowned propagandist publishers L Garson and M Wright. Especially at a time period when Pakistan is busy facing its domestic challenges, regional turbulences and international pressures. In such prevalent environment faced by Pakistan, the above-intended objectives of the writer seems to be achieved more comfortably through the release of such content.

Analysing the literature, its context and underlying intent; it can be safely concluded that the author’s personal and emotional responses related to matrimonial romantic gestures, issues of Pakistani judicial system and other social problems remain very much near reality; however, the rest of the stories about dealings by police authorities, Military and ISI are more of fabrications and twisting of the facts. Readers must take notice of the book’s credibility – ironically, last week the hard copy of the book was worth $24.99, today its $16.99. I wouldn’t be surprised if after a month, the book’s price will fall down to $2.99 and then perhaps will be selling for ‘buy one get one free’.

Readers must take notice of the book’s credibility — ironically, last week the hard copy of the book was worth $24.99, today it’s $16.99. I wouldn’t be surprised if after a month, the book’s price will fall down to $2.99, and then, perhaps, it will be selling for ‘buy one get one free’

To put the record straight, the book generates many questions that need to be answered by the author. Does the US Embassy and its Consulates employ the security contractors at their work places – the way Raymond Davis, associated with DynCorp International, was employed?

An unusual fiasco and distress at state level on the issue leads the common man to presume that Davis was perhaps on some very confidential mission in Pakistan–may be OBL. Why was there such a desperate need that Consulate General Carmela had to visit Davis every single day or alternately? Why did he still didn’t clarify his job description at US Consulate Lahore in the released book? Who fed Davis to precisely state pre and post 9/11 US aids given to Pakistan? Why has the role of ISI been dubbed as pro-Taliban particularly at this time?

Despite being an emotional romanticist, propagandist and macho man, there are a few things, which Davis has rightly pointed out as issues we face as a nation; our slow and ineffective judicial system, capacity lacking of our police and mob mentality as a nation in general and purporting extremism using religious platforms in particular. His observations being a subject have their own weight.

The police officers detailed with the accused were under-confident, lacking communication skills, incapable to read the profile of the accused and thus forth unable to extract what actually was needed to build the case.

Davis has complained that vehicles containing diplomatic license plates are pulled over frequently in Pakistan, with the passengers being harassed.

Unfortunately, only a few of our politicians are impressed with the book and using it as an opportunity to play politics against opposition and the others are running away from their responsibilities. Being impressed and succumbing to falsifications of a defaulter would be tantamount to success of hostile agencies. Above all, besides the military leadership and ISI, the political leadership of that time played a very crucial role in Davis case.

As a nation we should not accept any criticism or finger pointing towards our civil and military leadership. We have sacrificed a lot due to disunity, extremism and terrorism. Now is the time to give a strong message to these hostile actors that we are united and they can’t subdue Pakistan with sticks and tricks.

The writer is a freelance columnist based in Sargodha

Published in Daily Times, July 15^th , 2017.