US diplomat to face appropriate action: Khawaja Asif

Of the five Pakistanis held in Guantanamo, three are innocent, two on trial, Asif informs NA

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the United States (US) defence attaché, who was recently involved in a traffic accident which resulted in the death of a motorist in the federal capital, is present in the country and appropriate action will be taken against him in accordance with the law.

US Air and Defense attaché Col Joseph Emanuel Hall had jumped a red light on Saturday and had hit the motorcyclists at a traffic signal at the intersection of Margalla Road and 7th Avenue.

Asif, speaking on the floor of the national assembly, further said that the US embassy has assured full cooperation the matter.



The foreign minister also talked of five Pakistan inmates currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.

"Our mission in Washington has been coordinating with the US State Department to discuss legal options for the repatriation of these Pakistanis from Guantanamo Bay," said Asif.

Two of the inmates are facing charges while the remaining three have not been charged with any crime. One is held in connection with the 9/11 attack and other is guilty of conspiracy and murder. Efforts are being made to bring the three detainees back to the country, he added.

The foreign minister further stated that Pakistan is strongly highlighting the Kashmir dispute at the international forum, including the UN, Human Rights Commission and the OIC.

Responding to questions from lawmakers, he said the prime minister met with the UN Secretary-General in China and discussed Indian atrocities in the occupied valley. He added that our diplomatic missions abroad are also exposing India's state terrorism to the world.

Asif added that Pakistan wishes for the honourable and dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and there are currently fifty-four refugee camps in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which are used by terrorists to merge in.

On Monday Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police requested the Ministry of Interior to place the US military attaché’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).



The request was made after the diplomat’s reckless driving killed a motorcyclist and injured another. Hall was booked in a criminal case but was not detained because of his diplomatic immunity, the police are now proceeding to get his local driving licence revoked.