Why free online distribution of Raymond Davis' book?

LAHORE: A memoir by CIA contractor Raymond Allen Davis triggered a political storm in Pakistan as it carried startling revelations of the entire saga occurring in 2011 involving some high-profile figures, and the book arguably “brings to light” those behind-the-scene elements having ‘clout’, but surprisingly it comes with no price tag for the internet users.

Titled, “The Contractor: How I Landed in a Pakistani Prison and Ignited a Diplomatic Crisis”, the memoir originally costs $17 at book stores, and since its launch on June 27 in the US, the book was available for free online couple of days later in the form of ‘PDF’.

The 36-chapter and 179-page book was quickly shared on different WhatsApp groups thus surprising people on the social media whether the book was being forced on readers, especially those from Pakistan.

It was unusual that a newly-launched book was published online a day after its publication and anyone could download it from different web pages where it’s been uploaded.

Davis was contractor with the Central Intelligence Agency when he shot two men in Lahore on January 27, 2011. In fuelling a further controversy, a car coming to rescue Davis killed a third man in a hit-and-run while speeding on the wrong side of the road.

On March 16, 2011, Davis was released after the families of the two killed men were paid $2.4 million as blood money. Judges then acquitted him on all charges and he immediately returned to the United States.