US envoy not allowed to leave

Pakistan yesterday said it has placed the name of a US diplomat involved in a carcrash on its ‘blacklist’, therefore prohibiting the defence and air attaché from leaving the country.

The information was disclosed during a hearing at Islamabad High Court (IHC) after a petition was filed by the father of the deceased.

The American diplomat, Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall, who rammed over a biker in Islamabad on April 7, has been ‘blacklisted’ and thus cannot leave the country, according to Deputy Attorney-General (DAG) Raja Khalid Mahmood.

However, the federal government informed the IHC that the diplomat cannot stand trial in Pakistan because of diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.

The Vienna Convention assures immunity for any incidents involving diplomats that occur during the course of official duty, he said.

“A trial can only be held if the immunity is withdrawn,” the reply stated. During the hearing, Mehmood said authorities in Pakistan could not arrest, detain or prosecute Joseph because of the diplomatic immunity.

However, the suspect could be investigated. Joseph can be prosecuted in Pakistan if the diplomatic immunity is recalled by the Americans, he said, adding that if the US decides to take up the case, the suspect could stand trial and/or court martial in his home country.

There were reports earlier that the diplomat’s name would be added to the Exit Control List (ECL) but it was not done as it was a lengthy process. The blacklist serves the same purpose with a simpler process, DAG Mehmood explained.

The Islamabad High Court has also sought a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On April 7, US military attaché Col Joseph Emanuel Hall crossed a red light and rammed his vehicle into a motorcycle in Islamabad, killing Pakistani Ateeq Beg and injuring his cousin. The US official escaped arrest due to diplomatic immunity but a first information report (FIR) was registered with Kohsar Police Station.