Islamabad April 18 (TNS): The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday sought a report within from the Islamabad police, interior ministry and foreign ministry officials regarding placing the name of American diplomat Col Joseph’s name on the exit control list for the killing of a youth on road in Islamabad two weeks back.
When the IHC bench headed by Justice Aamir Farooq resumed hearing on a petition of the father of the victim, Atique Baig, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident by the American official, the Kohsar Police Station House Officer told the court that a request had been sent to the interior ministry to put Col Joseph’s name on the ECL and the police were waiting for response.
The SHO told the court that when they arrested the American official, they received a call from the Foreign Office and they were told by the officials that Col Joseph had diplomatic immunity and he should be released and they complied with the order.
The judge censured the SHO when he said that he jotted down the statement of the US diplomat in Urdu. The judge said that the US official could deny that he did not give the statement in Urdu. The judge also censured the SHO for not conducting the medical test of Col Joseph.
The interior and foreign ministries’ officials told the court that a committee has been formed to probe the matter before placing the US official’s name on the ECL. The reply drew the anger of the judge who said the police and Pakistani officials turn pale when they hear the names of Americans.
The court adjourned the hearing till Monday and ordered the authorities to inform the court about placing the name of the US official on the ECL.
