JuD comes out in open, pressurizing victims’ family in Raymond Davis case

LAHORE - The front organization of the hardcore banned terror group Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), is organizing countrywide strikes and pressurizing families of the two people allegedly murdered by American Raymond Davis not to strike any deals that would allow for Davis’ release.

Hundreds of people led by JuD leaders marched from Chauburji to the Qurtaba Chowk in Lahore, demanding death to the alleged US spy and holding Washington accountable for the large scale killings in drone attacks and bomb blasts at public places.

Waseem Shamshad, elder brother of Fahim, one of the young men killed, told The Express Tribune that the families are coming under conflicting pressures.

He claimed that on one hand the government is pressuring the victims’ families to withdraw the case against Davis, while several religious and political groups were pressuring them not to accept any deal that would allow Davis to walk free.

“Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba, Tehrik-e-Insaf, Insaf Students Federation and Jamaat-ud -Dawa,” he said, listing off the parties, which had called him.

Shamshad later retracted his earlier statement about the JuD when his lawyer came, saying that they were not pressuring the family at all.

He also seemed to change his tone about his feelings towards the affair, making it sound like he wanted revenge for his brother’s death. “We only want hanging of Davis at that very place where he killed our brothers,” he said.

Shamshad also made it evident that the public anger against Davis’ alleged crimes would make it very difficult for the family to accept any compromise or deal, even if they wanted to.

He also claimed that US Senator John Kerry had wanted to visit the family, but that he had refused to meet the American legislator.

Shamshad also denied allegations that the US government had attempted to bribe the family with money or the promise of visas to the United States. (ANI)