Family of killed man moves court to arrest US diplomat

ISLAMABAD - An application was filed with the Islamabad High Cout (IHC) seeking arrest of the US diplomat stationed in Pakistan, who killed a man by hitting a motorbike in the capital last week.

The application has been submitted by the father of the killed youth, Ateeq Baig, stating that Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall,  US defence and air attaché was drunk when he rammed his vehicle into the motorbike, killing his son on the spot and injuring the co-rider, ARY News reported.

He urged the court to arrest the accused, who has been released by Islamabad police due to diplomatic immunity, adding that Hall's name should be put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The aggrieved father said that the Kohsar police station lodged FIR against the foreign diplomat due to media pressure, adding that the police was not taking action against the accused.

The US military attache, SHO Kohsar police station and others have been made respondents in the case.

On Saturday, a car carrying the American diplomat hit a motorcycle in Islamabad, killing one man, Ateeq on the spot and injuring another.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pakistani-dies-after-us-consulate-vehicle-hits-bike-in-islamabad/

Colonel Emmanuel was driving the car when the accident took place in Islamabad on April 7. The police registered a case against the American diplomat at the Kohsar Police Station on behalf of victim’s father, Mohammed Idrees.

On Sunday, the Foreign Office on Sunday summoned American Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale to lodge a formal protest against the incident. According to a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that “justice will take its course” in accordance with local and international laws.

It said Hale expressed his sympathy and sadness over the loss of life and assured cooperation in the investigation.

On Monday, the Islamabad police sent a written request to Ministry of Interior to place the name of a US diplomat on the no-fly list.

On April 9, a US embassy spokesman has ruled out the impression that the United States will compensate the families of the April 7 accident victims in Pakistan.

“US is not going to compensate any heir of victim family and embassy hasn’t made any offer in this regard,” Richard Snelsire told the Morning Mail.

“It is just an accident and we expressed deep sympathy, sadness over the loss of life,” he added.