ECL issue: IHC gives govt deadline to decide US envoy’s matter

Court also observes attaché doesn’t enjoy absolute immunity

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Ministry of Interior to decide whether to put US diplomat accused of killing a youth on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC announced the verdict on Friday after the victim family approached the court, seeking that the diplomat be barred from leaving the country and tried for his ‘crime’.

The court directed the interior ministry to decide the matter in two weeks. The court also observed that the diplomat did not enjoy absolute immunity.

Col Joseph Emanuel Hall, Defence and Air Attache at the US Embassy, had killed a motorcyclist and injured another as he jumped red traffic signal at Zoo intersection on Margalla Road on April 7. Ateeq Baig, 22, was killed on the spot while his pillion rider was injured.

 



Baig’s father later approached the high court seeking directions for the police to investigate the case and the government to place diplomat’s name on ECL.

The Ministry of Interior also informed the court last month that the name of US diplomat Colonel Joseph Emmanuel Hall had been placed on the ‘blacklist’, prohibiting the US defence and air attache from leaving the country.

On May 8, the police also arrested a security officer of the US Embassy who had allegedly obstructed police to protect Hall after the April 7 accident.