Protests in Pakistan over release of CIA agent accused of murder (UPDATES)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Widespread protests have broken out in Pakistan after charges were dropped against a CIA contractor accused of gunning down two men in the eastern city of Lahore.

Raymond Davis was freed on Wednesday after "blood money" totalling more than $2 million was paid to families of the victims, closing a case that had caused a diplomatic standoff between the United States and Pakistan.

Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly youths, took to the streets on Thursday. In Lahore, they shouted: “America’s friends are traitors," “We want justice not aid," and "Justice is not for sale.”

Davis’ release coincided with 12 consecutive drone attacks, the highest number ever in one day. On Thursday, at least 41 people, including paramilitary troops, were killed when a missile hit a Jirga, or tribal meeting, in the Dattakhel area of North Waziristan, a prime target for such attacks in recent months.

The killing of paramilitary troops and pro-government tribal leaders in drone attacks risks further provoking tensions between Pakistan and U.S., allies in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Separately, a court petition was filed challenging the decision to quash the murder charge against Davis. It claimed that the families of the dead had been pressured by the government into pardoning Davis.

Barrister Iqbal Jafri said the pardoning of Davis was illegal, Dawn.com reported. The petition called for authorities to prosecute those who secured his release.

Davis, a former Green Beret, was alleged to have killed two motorcyclists on a busy street in Lahore in January. He claimed the shootings were in self-defense, but police said both men were shot in the back, proving the shooting was unjustified.

The case provoked anger in Pakistan after the United States claimed that Davis was a diplomat and therefore immune to prosecution. It threatened to fray ties between the United States and Pakistan, a key ally in the war against Al Qaeda and the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan.

Pakistan's government repeatedly deflected a decision on Davis' immunity ahead of the trial, apparently unwilling to confront public anger over the issue.

Officials said Wednesday that Davis had been released after 18 relatives of the victims agreed to pardon him after they were paid a total of $2.3 million. Sources told GlobalPost that some were also promised U.S. passports.

Analysts said the deal was likely a result of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations between the CIA and Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency, and possibly involved Saudi Arabia.

Speaking in Cairo, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the release of Davis — said to have boarded a plane to Washington via Afghanistan — but denied that her administration paid any "blood money."

"The United States did not pay any compensation," Clinton said, according to Reuters. Asked who did, she replied: "You will have to ask the families."

The protests throughout Pakistan have prompted the U.S. embassy in Islamabad and all consulates to suspend public services until further notice.

In protests on Thursday, teachers and students from Punjab University Lahore, the oldest and biggest university in Pakistan, tried to march towards U.S. consulate, but were dispersed by riot police using water canon and tear gas. Several at the rally were injured by police wielding batons and dozens were arrested.

Similar protest demonstrations and rallies were held in Karachi, the commercial hub of Pakistan, the capital Islamabad, Peshawar in the north, Quetta is the south, along with Multan, Faisalabad and several other cities and towns. Among the political and religious parties to denounce Davis’ release were the right-wing Jammat-e-Islami, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema Islam, Tehrik-e-Jafria Pakistan, which represents the Pakistani Shiites, and the Sunni United Council.

In Karachi, the women's wing of Jammat-e-Islami denounced the reported secret deal to release Davis.

“The U.S. has bought justice and managed to set him [Davis] free. But it has lost whatever morality it has in our hearts," said Atia Nisar, a rally participant. “Today, United States of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington is dead.”
 

— Barry Neild in London contributed to this report