Diplomatic missions: Over 2,500 foreigners granted diplomatic immunity

Americans form largest contingent, 851 US nationals enjoy blanket immunity.

ISLAMABAD: The government has granted diplomatic immunity to 2,570 foreigners working in diplomatic missions of 78 countries, including 851 of the United States, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly on Friday.

The state minister said that the government had also given diplomatic immunity to 170 Britons, 168 Saudis and 117 Indian officials, the minister said.

In a written reply filed in response to a question of Sajid Ahmed, Khar said that 1,919 of foreigners were diplomats, while 651 were non-diplomats.

Giving a breakdown of US diplomats, she said 554 of them were diplomats and 297 non-diplomats. Similarly, among UK nationals, there were 167 diplomats and three others, adding that of the total number of Saudi nationals given diplomatic immunity, 134 were diplomats. As many as 117 Indian nationals, including 26 diplomats, were also enjoying immunity.

Giving further details, she said that 54 of 56 German nationals enjoying diplomatic immunity were diplomats, 57 of 60 Afghans, 34 of 61 Italians, 25 of 28 Turks, 55 of 64 Iranians, 98 Russians, 87 Chinese and 60 nationals of France were diplomats with a similar status.

There were 52 US nationals working in Karachi consulate and 58 in the one in Peshawar were allowed full diplomatic immunity, she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani reiterated the government’s resolve to continue its policy of dialogue, development and deterrence and said it was ready to hold dialogue with all militants who were ready to voluntarily lay down their arms.

“We are ready to hold talks with them. We are ready to bring them into mainstream,” he said while responding to points raised by Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao during a debate on the law and order situation in the National Assembly.

He said that the offer was open for militants who were ready to surrender before Political Agents, the administrative heads of tribal agencies.

The prime minister, however, ruled out the possibility of holding any dialogue with elements working for foreign powers. He said: “Militants have to give up insurgency,” he demanded.

Highlighting the human cost of its war on terrorism, he said that Pakistan had suffered more casualties than Nato, adding that the world community must realise this fact.

He said a stable Afghanistan was in the greater interests of Pakistan which, he added, would also pave the way for repatriation of Afghan refugees.

Referring to the domestic law and order situation, the prime minister said that the situation could not get better unless terrorism was rooted out, adding that improvement in national economy was also linked with the security situation. He assured the lower house of parliament that Pakistan would not compromise on the issue.

Earlier, Sherpao suggested the government to devise a new strategy in what he observed a changed scenario after the arrest of US national in connection with the killing of two Pakistanis in Lahore and increasing American pressure on the government to release him.

Berating the government for allowing persons who had crushed another Pakistani under the wheels of the consulate’s vehicle flee the country, Sherpao said: “They (have even) suspended dialogue with Pakistan on strategic issues because of the same issue, which is reflective of their mindset,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.