US envoy faces travel ban after crash

ISLAMABAD POLICE SAY THEY FEAR DEFENCE ATTACHÉ MAY LEAVE THE COUNTRY BEFORE INVESTIGATION IS THROUGH

Police in Pakistan’s capital yesterday asked the interior ministry to add to the country’s Exit Control List (ECL) the name of a US diplomat involved in a crash that killed one person.

At least one media report claimed the diplomat’s name had already been put on the ECL. Officials were fearing that US Defence and Air Attaché, Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall, may soon leave the country, police reportedly said in a letter to the interior ministry.

The accident occurred on April 7, near Daman-e-Koh Chowk in Islamabad, when a fast-moving SUV driven by Col Hall crossed a red light and struck a motorcycle, killing Atiq Baig and injuring his cousin Raheel Ahmad.

Police officers said when they reached the accident site the person in the car introduced himself as Colonel Joseph Emanuel.

Immunity

Following the incident, officials took Emanuel and his car to the police station and he was eventually handed over to US embassy officials after formalities. In a statement issued earlier, Islamabad police said they could not arrest Emanuel as the Vienna convention provided him immunity.

Nevertheless, a police investigation is under way and a case was registered against the diplomat under Sections 279 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), 320 (Punishment for manslaughter by rash or negligent driving), 337-G (Punishment for injury by rash or negligent driving) and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal expressed grief over the death of the young man.

In a message posted on Twitter, Ahsan Iqbal said it was tragic that a road incident involving a US diplomat, in which traffic law was clearly violated, resulted in the death of a Pakistani citizen.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said they were looking into the incident.

“Foreign Ministry [is] closely following investigation into the road accident involving a US diplomat which led to the tragic death of a Pakistani citizen in Islamabad” tweeted FO spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.

The Foreign Office on Sunday summoned US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale to register its “strong protest”.