US ambassador summoned over killing of biker in road accident

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned Ambassador of United States to Pakistan David Hale to lodge a strong protest over the death of a motorcyclist after being hit by a vehicle driven by a senior US diplomat, ARY News reported.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the US ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register the protest.

Sources say the Foreign Office expressed displeasure over the police for allowing the US diplomat to drive off after killing the Pakistani citizen in the road mishap, saying it is for the Foreign Office to decide about whether a diplomat enjoys diplomatic immunity or not.

Janjua, however, said that law will take its course and the matter would be handled in accordance with the law of the land and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.

“The US ambassador expressed his deep sympathy and sadness over the loss of life and assured that the embassy would fully cooperate in the investigation,” the foreign office said in a statement.

A day earlier, a motorcyclist was killed while his pillion passenger injured after being hit by a fast-moving SUV driven by US defence and air attaché Colonel Joseph Emanuel. The police released him after recording his statement.

The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Ateeq Baig, whereas the injured was his cousin Raheem Ahmed.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against the diplomat at Kohsar police station on the complaint of Baig’s father.

The FIR said the envoy violated a traffic signal and rammed into a motorcycle near Maraghzar Zoo at around 3:00 pm which caused the death of Baig and injured his cousin Raheel Ahmed.

In a statement on official Twitter account, spokesperson for the Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said, “Foreign Ministry closely following investigation into the road accident involving a US diplomat which led to the tragic death of a Pakistani citizen in Islamabad.”

Foreign Ministry closely following investigation into the road accident involving a US diplomat which led to the tragic death of a Pakistani citizen in Islamabad.

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) April 8, 2018