Widow of man killed by Davis commits suicide

 LAHORE: The wife of one of two motorcyclists shot dead by a US government employee last month committed suicide on Sunday due to sheer frustration that she may not get justice in view of the pressure being built to get the American released.

The US consular employee, whom Pakistani police identified as Raymond Davis, was arrested on January 27 after shooting dead Mohammad Faheem and Faizan Haider, claiming he acted in self-defence fearing the pair were about to rob him.

A third person was knocked down and killed by a vehicle from the US consulate in Lahore that tried to rescue Davis. The American was arrested by the police and a case of double murder was registered against him.


"Mohammad Faheem's wife Shumaila on Sunday morning took poisonous pills and she was taken to the Allied Hospital" in Faisalabad city, local police chief Usman Anwar told AFP. Hospital doctor Ali Naqi confirmed the suicide attempt, describing her condition is critical. "We are trying our best but we cannot say anything so far," Naqi told AFP.

He quoted Shumaila as saying that she feared Davis could be released without trial.

Shumaila told a private TV channel that she was upset over reports that efforts were being made to secure his release. "I was under shock and decided to kill myself," she said. "We want blood for blood," she told the channel. Faheem's brother Mohammad Waseem told AFP that Shumaila, 18, was plunged into a "severe depression" by her husband's death.

She took the pills before dawn and was rushed to the hospital early Sunday, he said. Despite strenuous efforts by the doctors, Shumaila's life could not be saved. Heavy contingents of police surrounded the Allied Hospital and evacuated the ward whereas the Elite Force was deployed near the main gate of the hospital to avoid any untoward incident.

Earlier, after first aid, Shumaila Kanwal told media persons at the hospital that she took poisonous tablets that are normally used to keep wheat stored at home protected from pests and insects which led her condition to the worst. 

Shumaila appealed to PML-N's Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif that justice should be ensured and demanded punishment to Raymond Davis. Fahim's brother said they feared that authorities were trying to protect Raymond Davis and they would not get the justice. He too appealed to high authorities and the government to act against the assassin.