Pakistan court acquits CIA contractor after ‘blood money’ deal

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Lahore, Mar 16: American CIA contractor Raymond Davis, arrested after he shot and killed two Pakistanis in January, was today acquitted by a court after the families of the dead men agreed to a “blood money” deal and pardoned him.
Shortly after Additional District and Sessions Judge Yousuf Aujla indicted Davis on murder charges during in-camera proceedings at the Kot Lakhpat Jail, 18 relatives of the dead men appeared in the makeshift court and said they were willing to forgive the American if compensation was paid under the Qisas and Diyat Law.
“The relatives appeared in court and independently told the judge that they had accepted the diyat (compensation) and forgiven him,” said Rana Sanaullah, the Law Minister of Punjab province.
“The court then acquitted him. The court proceedings were completed according to the law. The Punjab government didn’t talk to anyone and we were not part of (this arrangement),” Sanaullah said.
The 36-year-old Davis paid Rs 6 crore as ‘diyat’ to the relatives of the dead men in the presence of the judge, Geo News channel quoted its sources as saying.
The relatives gave a written undertaking about accepting the “blood money” and asked the judge to free Davis.
The judge accepted this and acquitted Davis, the channel reported. 
“Blood money” is paid to the next of kin of a murder victim as a fine.
Sanaullah said that under Pakistani and Islamic laws, the relatives of the dead men had the legal right to accept ‘diyat’ and forgive the accused.
“The government and the prosecutors cannot prevent that,” he said. 

Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST



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