US diplomat's chief security official arrested for obstructing justice

Hall killed a 22-year-old while jumping traffic signals in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police on Tuesday arrested the United States embassy's chief security officer for aiding US diplomat Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall – who killed a 22-year-old while jumping traffic signals in Islamabad.

According to sources, the officer, Syed Taimur Iqbal Peerzada, arrived at the crime scene shortly after the incident with three armed guards and reportedly tried to aid the US defence and air attache. He is also accused of resisting police officials at the scene.

Peerzada was summoned by the police to record witness statement in the case. However, he was detained after refusing to identify the gunmen who accompanied him. He was arrested on the directives of assistant inspector-general (AIG) operations SSP Asmatullah Junejo - who is heading the inquiry.

It is pertinent to note that the same official was granted pre-arrest bail in another roadkill involving a US diplomat where he had resisted and obstructed police officials from conducting inquiry at the crime scene.

Earlier this month, a fast-moving Land Cruiser, driven by Col Hall, jumped the red light and hit a motorcycle carrying two men at the intersection of Margalla Road and 7th Avenue in Islamabad. One of the men, Ateeq Mir, died on the spot while the other, Raheel Ahmed, got injured.

Soon after the accident, an on-duty traffic police official alerted the police. The US diplomat and his car were taken to the nearby Kohsar Police Station in Islamabad’s F-7 area where he presented his diplomatic card issued by the Foreign Office as well as his driving licence.

An FIR has been lodged against the diplomat on the complaint of the victims’ families. Hall has been booked for unintentional murder through rash driving.



The victim's father filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court requesting to direct the IGP, the chief commissioner and the SHO to ensure that fair and transparent investigation is conducted with regard to the allegations in the FIR to arrest the accused person unless they are satisfied that the arrest is not necessary.

The deceased, Ateeq Baig, hailed from Talhar village in the Margalla Hills and worked part time at a hotel in the Blue Area while his father is a security guard at a government school in Saidpur village.