The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reserved its verdict on a petition seeking inclusion of the name of a US diplomat who allegedly killed a motorcyclist in a road accident in Islamabad on the Exit Control List (ECL).
A bench, comprising Justice Amir Farooq, reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from the petitioner’s lawyer and a state counsel.
The judge asked the lawyers to spell out mechanism for punishment of a diplomat in such cases and observed that it is not possible that the one who commits a crime is let off the hook.
Advocate Mirza Shehzad submitted that if the US authorities permit, the diplomat can be tried in Pakistan. However, he can also stand trial in his own country.
At previous hearing, the Ministry of Interior submitted a report to the bench in response to its notice, stating that Col Joseph has been blacklisted in a case pertaining to the death of 22-year-old Ateeq Baig.
To a query, state counsel Raja Khalid informed that the US diplomat cannot travel after being blacklisted. Travel restrictions for a person placed on the ECL or blacklisted are similar, he added.
