RAWALPINDI: The United States (US) sent a special aircraft on Saturday to bring back its Defence and Air Attache Col Joseph Emmanuel Hall, who had crushed a biker to death in Islamabad, however, the Pakistani government barred the American diplomat from leaving the country.
According to details, a special aircraft arrived at the Nur Khan Airbase here to take the American diplomat home. However, Pakistani immigration officials refused to allow Col Hall from boarding the plane, compelling him to return to the embassy. The aircraft left with some equipment and personnel of the embassy.
The US embassy has also reportedly handed over passport of the diplomat to FIA immigration officials, who are awaiting orders from the top authorities for further action.
On April 7, Col Hall killed a youth and injured the pillion rider as he jumped the traffic signal at the intersection of Margalla Road and 7th Avenue in the federal capital.
The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Ateeq Baig, a resident of Talhar village in Margalla Hills. The diplomat was later released after the Foreign Office (FO) said he enjoys diplomatic immunity.
Mohammad Idrees, Ateeq’s father, had filed a petition through his counsel Shahzad Akbar for placement of the diplomat’s name on ECL. CCTV footage of the Safe City Project shows the diplomat driving a white land cruiser at a high speed and hitting the motorcycle after violating the red signal.
On April 24, the interior ministry had informed the court that in order to restrict the movement of Col Hall, his name had been placed on the blacklist of the Directorate of Immigration.
