ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has started the process to put a US diplomat on the Exit Control List (ECL), sources told Dawn.

Inspector General of Police Dr Sultan Azam Temuri told Dawn that a written request was sent to the ministry on Monday seeking the name of the American diplomat on the ECL.

The capital police informed the ministry that the diplomat was booked on criminal charges, including murder by mistake or rash or negligent driving. The presence of the diplomat is necessary for investigation.

The director general Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also confirmed that arrangements were made to prevent the diplomat from leaving the country, Dr Temuri stated.

The diplomat has a valid licence issued by the Islamabad Traffic Police, the IGP stated. The police were considering canceling the licence and a directive in this regard would be issued to the ITP, he said.

US Defence and Air Attaché Col Joseph Emanuel Hall on Saturday jumped a red signal at Damn-i-Koh Chowk and hit a motorcycle. As a result, two motorcycle riders suffered injuries and later one of them – Atiq Baig – died.

The pillion rider, Raheel Ahmed, suffered multiple injuries, including fractures. He was being treated at a hospital.

A CCTV footage of the Safe City Project showed that the diplomat drove a white Land Cruiser at a high speed and violated the red signal and hit the motorcycle, the police stated, adding the footage also showed that the diplomat neither applied break nor tried to save the motorcyclists.

Sources in the immigration department on condition of anonymity said, “so far the US diplomat has not left the country.”

Subdivisional Police Officer Secretariat ASP Zohaib Nasarullah Ranjha told Dawn that the US diplomat had made an attempt to travel abroad on a Middle East-bound Qatar Airways flight. He reached the airport at 4am on Sunday but left after seeing officials of the capital police there, he added.

Investigating officer of the case, Inspector Arshad Ali, from the homicide unit said the investigation of the case was being finalsed. The investigators have so far collected statements of eyewitnesses, the injured victim and the accused, he added.

The police are waiting for the medico-legal report of the deceased and the injured to finalise the investigation and challan, the IO stated.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2018