*ISLAMABAD:* Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Wednesday said thataction will be taken in accordance with law against the United States (US)air and defence attaché who recently hit and killed a motorcyclist in thefederal capital.
Responding to questions of members in the National Assembly, the foreignminister said the US diplomat is still in Pakistan and the US embassy hasassured full cooperation in the investigation.
Colonel Joseph Emmanuel Hall hit a motorcyclist as he jumped the trafficsignal at the intersection of Margalla Road and 7th Avenue in the federalcapital on Saturday. The incident killed a youth while the pillionrider received serious injuries.
The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Ateeq Baig. A resident of Talharvillage in Margalla Hills, his father is employed as a security guard at apublic school in Saidpur village.
In his complaint, the father of the deceased said his son and nephew werehit by a land cruiser at Daman-e-Koh Chowk on Margalla Road. Thecomplainant said his son and nephew were crossing the intersection inaccordance with traffic rules when hit by the vehicle jumping signals.
A traffic policeman posted nearby responded immediately and informedauthorities. The US colonel was then taken to Kohsar police station in F-7.Officials said Hall was alone in the car at the time.
The police said in a statement issued 30 hours after the accident that theydid not arrest the US diplomat because the Vienna convention provided himimmunity.
According to Article 29 of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961,the person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. “He shall not beliable to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving state shall treathim with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent anyattack on his person, freedom or dignity.”
Earlier on Sunday, the Foreign Office summoned US Ambassador to PakistanDavid Hale to record “strong protest” against the killing of the Pakistanicitizen.
On Monday the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police requested theFederal Ministry of Interior to place the name of the US defence and airattache on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent him from escapingPakistan.