Qartaba Chowk killings Cases against bikers being delayed for ‘backlash fears’
LAHORE, Jan 29: The police on Saturday neither registered separate robbery cases against two motorcyclists shot dead by a US Consulate employee at Qartaba Chowk on Thursday last despite receiving complaints, nor they could make any breakthrough in tracing the driver of a US vehicle involved in the killing of another motorcyclist immediately after firing by suspect Raymond Davis.
A police official told Dawn they were avoiding registration of robbery cases against the two deceased to dispel an impression that the arrested US national was being extended any favour by the government under any pressure.
He said though the city police stations were being checked for any criminal record of the deceased, it was premature to declare that Faizan Haider and Fahim were outlaws, as alleged by the arrested US official.
Capital City Police Officer Muhammad Aslam Tareen said Lahore US Consulate officials were still denying the involvement of their vehicle and driver in the killing of Ibadur Rehman.
He said in the firing incident the police had got sufficient evidence against Raymond Davis through seizure of his unlicensed weapon, car and the eyewitness account, adding the accused would be dealt according to law.
Mr Tareen said detailed post-mortem reports of the three deceased, yet to be received, and other evidence would also help identify the culprits.
The CCPO said Raymond Davis was being detained for further queries at an undisclosed location after being remandedin custody for six days by a court.
He said: “We are looking into the contents of applications lodged (against the deceased) by Dr Mudassir and Shahram before taking any decision regarding filingcases.”
APP ADDS: The police are investigating the case of twin murders by US Consulate official Raymond Davis from various angles while no criminal record has been found so far against the deceased – Fahim and Faizan.
Investigation sources told APP that the police were working on this case keeping in view the evidence found on the crime scene and statement by the American official.
The police have yet not declared the two deceased men as dacoits so far, the sources added.