Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Fearing that he might leave the country, the federal capital police have asked the interior ministry to put the name of US Defence and Air Attaché Colonel Joseph Emanuel on the Exit Control List (ECL).

In a letter written to the interior ministry, the police stated they have received information from reliable sources and pertaining to the investigation of the accident in Islamabad in which the US defence attaché was allegedly involved and the police did not want him to leave Pakistan.

A case has been filed against Emanuel after his car violated a red light signal and hit a motorbike, killing a young man and injuring another.

In a statement issued earlier, Islamabad police had said they could not arrest Emanuel as the Vienna Convention provided him with immunity.

According to Article 29 of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, the person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. “He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving state shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.”

Nevertheless, police said, a case under section 279 and 320 was filed at Kohsar police station against the US defence attaché.

The authorities added that they were in contact with the accident victim Atiq Baig’s family and would provide them with justice.

The accident took place on April 7 near Daman-e-Koh Chowk in Islamabad, killing Baig and injuring his cousin Raheel Ahmed. The police officials said when they approached the site the person in the car introduced himself as Colonel Joseph Emanuel and showed them his official card.

Following the incident, officials said they took Emanuel and his car to the police station. After initial inquiry, Emanuel was handed over to the embassy officials who were also present at the police station.