Diplomat to face legal action in US: FO

Indian propaganda against Pakistan and the hyper drive they get themselves into is an established pattern

The United States has assured Pakistan that it will initiate criminal proceedings against its defense attaché, who was involved in a road accident in which a young Pakistani was killed in the federal capital.

Pakistan has allowed Col Joseph Emmanuel Hall to leave the country quietly on Monday, prompting strong reaction from the opposition, which wanted him to be tried in local courts.

The Foreign Office on Thursday for the first time gave Pakistan’s official reaction on the issue.

“Let me explain it. It is not that way. Diplomats enjoy immunity while serving in the country of their accreditation. In this context, Col Joseph was allowed to leave the country based on this diplomatic immunity,” Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal told reporters.

“The US has assured us that it will initiate criminal/administrative action against Col Joseph in US courts,” he added.

Pakistan initially resisted the US demand to allow Col Joseph to leave the country as his name was placed on the ‘black list’, meaning he could not be allowed to travel without seeking prior permission from the local authorities.

Islamabad had demanded from Washington to withdraw the diplomatic immunity being enjoyed by the defense attaché so that he could be tried in Pakistan.

However, the US turned down the request but agreed to proceed against Col Joseph back in the states. After assurance, Pakistan finally allowed him to leave the country.

There were reports that the US embassy also reached some settlement with the victim’s families.

The road accident took place on April 7. The CCTV footage showed Col Joseph jumping the red light and hitting a motorbike, leaving 22 year-old Atiq Baig dead and injuring the other.



The incident happened at a time when relations between the two countries were already tense.

The two countries recently imposed tit-for-tat restrictions on each other’s diplomats, suggesting a new low in their fragile ties.

The spokesperson said the State Department imposed travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in Washington starting from 11 May 2018.

“The diplomatic staff and their families will now have to seek prior permission for travelling outside the radius of 25 miles (approx 40 kms),” he said.



“As a matter of reciprocity, US diplomats in Pakistan have also been asked to seek prior permission for the movement exceeding 25 miles limit. We hope that the matter can be resolved through dialogue,” he added.

When asked about the recent statement by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the Mumbai attacks, Faisal refused to comment on the remarks saying “it was our internal matter”.

“However, the Indian propaganda against Pakistan, especially during their elections and the hyper drive they get themselves into, is an established pattern and should be treated as such,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan strongly condemned Gaza massacre perpetrated by Israel defence forces against unarmed Palestinian civilians in which 60 people lost their lives and 2,700 were injured. The protesters were peacefully agitating against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

“Pakistan welcomes the initiative of Turkey to convene an extraordinary summit in Istanbul to take cognisance of the use of force by the Israeli defence forces against protesting civilians. Pakistan believes that this summit will accord opportunity to the OIC to discuss the grave situation and to come up with a collective response.”

“The OIC represents 57 member states and 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. We are confident that message from the OIC platform will show resolve of the Muslim countries on rejecting Israel’s policies on the treatment of Palestinians.”