recorder report

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court has been moved to put US diplomat Colonel Joseph Emmanuel’s name on Exit Control List (ECL) as he is allegedly involved in killing of a youngster in a road accident.

A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq will hear writ petition of Muhammad Idrees, father of deceased Ateeq Baig today (Thursday).

Muhammad Idrees has filed the petition through Mirza Shahzad Akbar Advocate and made Colonel Joseph, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Chief Commissioner, federal government through Prime Minister, secretary interior and SHO police station Kohsar as respondents.

The petitioner stated that he is the father of deceased Ateeq who was killed by Joseph in a widely reported car accident which took place in Islamabad on April 7.  He added that Joseph is a citizen of the United Stated of America who is currently employed in Pakistan as air defense attaché at US Embassy in Pakistan and nominated accused in FIR # 168/208 lodged by the complainant.

He continued that till filing of this case, it is believed that he continues to reside in Pakistan but is busy trying to flee the country. He added that since the accident took place at a signal on Margalla Road where Safe City Project cameras are functioning and since it happened during broad day light, vivid video footage of the accident is available. This video footage has been widely shared in the electronic media and social media.

The petitioner’s counsel Miza Shahzad adopted in the petition that the video footage clearly shows that the petitioner’s son was killed on account of rash driving by Colonel Joseph Emmanuel while according to bystanders, the accused also appeared to be heavily intoxicated.

He maintained that because the accident took place in heart of the capital city, traffic police officials reached the site immediately and recognized that the evidence showed that the accused is guilty of cognizable offences. However, instead of arresting the accused, the police allowed him to leave the site once he informed them that he was an employee of the United States Embassy in Islamabad.

“It is significant to point out that the police officials did not subject the accused person to a “breath test” or made any effort to collect his blood sample or urine sample which would provide conclusive evidence about whether he was driving while drunk,” said the petition.

According to the lawyer, till filing of this writ, the police have made no effort whatsoever to conduct any sincere effort to conclude investigation of FIR # 168/2018 according to law and no efforts have been made to trace and arrest the accused whom the police themselves have allowed to escape the site once he informed them that he was an employee of the United States Embassy in Islamabad.

The petitioner apprehended that the accused person who had committed heinous offences in Pakistan is trying to leave the borders of the country in order to evade investigation by the police and trial under the laws of the country. He added that despite this clear and present danger, the federal government has not put the accused person on the Exit Control List.

Therefore, he prayed to the court to direct SHO, IG and chief commissioner to ensure that fair and transparent investigation is conducted with regard to the allegations contained in FIR # 168/2018 against the accused person and to arrest the accused person unless they are satisfied, for reasons to be recorded, that such arrest is not necessary to secure the ends of justice.

He also requested the court to direct them to complete the investigation of this case at the earliest and submit police report under Section 173 CrPC (challan) before competent court at the earliest and conduct disciplinary proceedings against those police officials who were responsible for the illegalities alleged in this petition.

The petitioner further requested the court to direct the federal government and secretary Interior to ensure that name of the accused is placed on the Exit Control List and remains on it till the conclusion of the case against him.

He pleaded the court to direct chief commissioner to submit a report to this court regarding the investigation and fate of similar incidents involving the death of Pakistani citizens by rash driving of foreign diplomats in Islamabad.