IHC gives interior ministry 14 days to decide over placing US diplomat on ECL

Ruling that the US diplomat who killed a motorcyclist does not have absolute immunity, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the interior ministry to decide over placing his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The IHC had reserved its verdict regarding United States Defence and Air Attache Colonel Joseph Emanuel. The US diplomat had run a red light and hit a motorcycle coming from the other side carrying Ateeq Baig and his cousin. Ateeq had died on spot and his cousin had been injured.

Emaneul had escaped arrest because of diplomatic immunity, however, during today's hearing the high court ruled that he does not have absolute diplomatic immunity. The high court has also given two weeks time to the interior ministry to decide about placing the diplomat's name on the ECL, local media reported.

Police arrest security official for ‘aiding’ US diplomat in fleeing

On May 8, a security official of Emanuel was arrested on for allegedly aiding the US diplomat in fleeing. Taimur had been arrested on the orders of assistant inspector-general (AIG).

On April 30, US Embassy Second Secretary Chad Rex Ausburn, hit a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger. However, the police had booked the motorcyclist for negligent driving