Govt lambasted for allowing 'murderer' US diplomat to leave Pakistan

PTI lawmaker Shireen Mazari says no diplomat has immunity when he is involved in a murder

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shireen Mazari grilled the government on Tuesday for allowing US military attaché to leave Pakistan under the guise of diplomatic immunity.

US diplomat Colonel Joseph Hall was allowed toleave Pakistan on a special plane despite facing travelling restrictions due to his direct involvement in a road accident on April 7 where he jumped a red light at Daman-e-Koh Chowk and hit a motorcycle. Consequently, two riders of the bike suffered injuries and one of them, 22-year-old Ateeq Baig, later died.

Addressing the National Assembly session which was once again marred by lack of quorum, Mazari demanded government explain why the US diplomat was allowed to leave Pakistan in a American plane that landed at Chaklala Airbase from Bagram Airbase. Mazari highlighted the irony of the fact that a foreigner suspected to be involved in a criminal activity is allowed to flee from the country.

Mazari said that after staging a 'drama' that the US plane was not allowed to escort Hall, he was shortly allowed to leave the country. “No diplomat has immunity when he is involved in a murder,” she asserted, while claiming to prove through Vienna Convention that the US diplomat was wrongfully awarded immunity.

She asked government why it had accepted “such slavery”.

Karachi heat wave

The recent heatwave in Karachi kept echoing in the august house as lawmakers discussed the death of 65 people due to heat stroke within three days.



Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) parliamentarian Shaikh Salahudin said power breakdowns and water scarcity were multiplying the difficulties of residents. He pointed out that National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) did not hold K-Electric accountable for failing to increase power generation. “Water is yet to be supplied for the K-4 project despite allocation of funds,” he said.

PTI leader Arif Alvi urged television channels to run public service messages encouraging people to stay hydrated and cover their heads while under the sun.

Noting that Karachi’s water supply stood at 750 million gallons per day (MGD), while the demand is 1150MGD, he termed desalination of water a viable solution.

Provision of gas in Sindh

Meanwhile, responding to a call attention notice, minister for parliamentary affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed said 2.8 million consumers are on the system of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) which annually receives 100,000 applications for new gas connections.

Ahmed said the gas company provided connections on first come first served basis within 45 days, and went on to add that there was no shortage of gas in Sindh. Ban on commercial gas connections has also been lifted following LNG import, he maintained.

The minister emphasised the need for greater harmony amongst the provinces for a stronger federation.