US Consulate delivers Davis menu

LAHORE Knowing his masters have thrown full weight behind him, Raymond Davis, the US national who killed two Pakistanis, spent a relaxed first day in the Kot Lakhpat Jail, meeting senior American officials and enjoying the protocol befitting a president, it is learnt. Sources said it was business as usual for the detained US undercover operative. Davis was at liberty to interact with the outside world on the internet and the phone amidst maximum security. US Consulate officials in four vehicles, including a black Range Rover and a white Corona, visited him on Saturday at intervals, sources added. The first US Consulate vehicle arrived early Saturday and served Davis sumptuous breakfast, sources said. A few other officials in the white Corona arrived around lunch time, at 1:15pm. A third vehicle arrived at teatime while some senior officials of the US Consulate in Black Range Rover came to deliver him dinner, sources added. Sources said the jail gate remained shut all day long, and was only opened for the US vehicles or the IG and the DIG Prison. Every vehicle of the US Consulate made it to the security wall around Davis room without any search, sources added. DIG Prison Shahid Saleem Baig and Superintendent Kot Lakhpat Jail Mian Mushtaq Awan accompanied the fourth US vehicle arriving after nightfall, officials revealed requesting not to be named. Official said Davis was spotted strolling in the sub-jail that comprises two barracks and 16 special rooms. On the other side, the furnishing of a special security room for Davis has been expedited. Security pickets on the rooftop are getting the final touches, sources said. The room where Asif Zardari and PML-N leader Makhdoom Hashmi was imprisoned is being furnished for Davis. Jail visitors and inmates have been facing multiple problems. My parents would give Rs 200 to a police constable to pass me homemade food, sugar, shaving cream and rice. Now the rate has surged to Rs 500 per prisoner, an inmate said. In keeping with the past, DIG Shahid Baig and Jail Superintendent Mushtaq Awan did not take phone calls for their versions. The United States has put off trilateral Pak-US-Afghanistan talks as a step towards severing ties with Pakistan, the frontline state in the war on terror. The US punitive measure came on the heels of Pakistan Foreign Office statement that Pak-US ties couldnt be taken hostage to the Davis case.

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