ISLAMABAD – The federal government on Tuesday informed the Islamabad HighCourt that the US diplomat who killed a boy in a road accident in thecapital city has been placed on the blacklist.

A bench of the high court was hearing a petition seeking to put the name ofUS defense and air attaché Colonel Joseph Emmanuel Hall on the Exit ControlList (ECL).

The diplomate, earlier this month, rammed his vehicle into a motorbikeafter jumping a traffic signal at the intersection of Margalla Road and 7thAvenue. A boy identified as 22-year-old Ateeq Baig died on the spot whilethe co-rider sustained injuries.

During today’s hearing, Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid submitted areport to the court in response to its notice, stating that the accusedcould not leave Pakistan as a notification regarding putting his name onthe blacklist was sent to authorities of all airports in the country.

He further said that Col Joseph has a diplomatic immunity; therefore, hecould not be detained and tried in Pakistan.

On April 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided not to place the nameof the US diplomat on the no-fly list, as he has an exemption under theVienna Convention, Express News reported.

The meeting also observed that Pakistani diplomats had also used thisimmunity over the cases of similar nature in Iran and New Delhi, addingthat Islamabad was bound to follow the rules.

The family of the killed youth on April 11 moved the high court to placethe name of Col Joseph on ECL.