A.R. Jerral The manner in which the Lahore Police initially handled the murder case of Faizan Haider and Faheem Shamshad, killed by an American gora, demonstrate that we still live in colonial times. Pakistan gained independence from its British masters on August 14, 1947, and we celebrate the occasion every year. Yet at the official level, when we deal with any white man our slave mentality developed over 200 years goes into overdrive to save the gora masters. Raymond Davis, working in the US Consulate, at Lahore, shot and killed two Pakistani youth in cold blood at a busy road in the Mozang area. He fired many bullets and each victim had multiple bullet holes in the body. Davis claimed self-defence, yet there was no evidence that any one of the victim had fired at him. A high official of the Lahore Police was quick to declare those killed as robbers without any inquiry. Undoubtedly, our police are a legacy of the British masters and still function on parameters and rules established by them. This psyche put the slave instinct in motion and the gora sahib had to be rescued from his predicament. Why did the senior officer react in a hasty manner, there is yet no explanation from any quarter. Even twenty-four hours after the incident the police could not find any criminal record against the two men killed by the modern day Rambo from the US. Then suddenly the TV channels ran strips that the gora had registered a case for attempted robbery against the dead. The irony is that this complaint was lodged much after these persons had been killed. Our police are very resourceful; anything is possible. It appears that the loyal police have rallied behind their senior officer to prove his instant findings right. Nevertheless, murder is a serious offence; it cannot be brushed away in haste. The statement given in haste by an irresponsible police officer was carried by the international media in support of the murderer and abets his version that he fired in self-defence. This hasty observation by the officer may, can and will provide legal leverage to the culprit to win his freedom from a court of law, and when he is proceeded against. This incident reveals sinister events taking place inside sovereign Pakistan at the behest of our friend and ally - the US. Who is Davis and what he and others like him are doing in Pakistan? He speaks fluent Pushto and Urdu, roams about in the cities in local tagged cars and can call upon backup support whenever he feels like. He is described as a Technical Advisor at the US Consulate. It appears to be a cover appointment or designation. The US Embassy is reluctant to give any details about him and is hedging all queries. They have even refused to give details of his visa classification. This is indeed a serious matter. Raymond Davis presence in Pakistan confirms that there are many Americans roaming freely in Pakistan and indulging in activities, which may be harmful and dangerous to our national interests. In addition, the presence of such unaccounted foreign nationals inside Pakistan confirms the rumour afloat in Islamabad that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has given blanket permission to his Ambassador, at Washington, to issue any number of visas to US personnel without any background checks or verifications. This amply demonstrates that the PPP government is being dictated by the US, despite emphatic denials of its leadership. Raymond Davis is a killer and a murderer; he should not be given any latitude and should be tried under the law of the land. As his diplomatic status is suspected he has no immunity, he must pass through the due process of law. America can kidnap and sentence the killers of US citizen from any country, therefore, an American must and should face the law of the land where he commits a crime. This is the time that our political leadership can prove to its nationals that Pakistan is truly an independent and sovereign country. The way the events are unfolding there is a fear that killer Raymond will be handed over to the American authorities and will be quietly whisked away to the US. These murders by an American are much less in magnitude. Americans have gotten away with bigger massacres - remember Mai Lai in Vietnam. More recently, the American mercenary army - the Blackwater - massacred scores of innocent Iraqi women and children on September 16, 2007, at Baghdads Nisour Square. They too claimed self-defence though later investigation proved that the victims were ordinary Iraqi people going about their daily chores. This day is known as 'Bloody Sunday in Iraq and made the Maliki government take stern stand. Yet, the American political, military and diplomatic might leaned heavily on the Iraqi government to insist on joint investigation. The culprits were secretly taken out of Iraq and were never charged. The Mozang tragedy is much smaller than Iraqs 'Bloody Sunday; if the American might was able to get the killers out without legal trials, it will be much easier for them to extricate Raymond Rambo Davis out of Pakistan. Prime Minister Maliki did show some clout, but our leaders lack that ability. Our leaders are too timid. Unfortunately, our Interior Minister also labelled the deceased as 'robbers, tacitly confirming what the police officer had said. This declaration by the Minister was uncalled for. How could he pass a judgment without any investigation? There is a visible effort to build up a scenario, which will help the killer to get away unharmed. The psyche of slavery to white supremacy is operating in full force. The Pakistani people are now getting restless, especially when the feelings and sentiments against America are very strong. What has happened in Tunis and Egypt might happen in Pakistan too, if our leaders do not adopt a visibly independent national political course. How we deal with the case in hand will demonstrate the path taken by our leaders. If it does not reflect the sentiments of the masses, they should be ready to face the revolution every politician is talking about. The writer is a freelance columnist.