Two injured as US diplomat's car rams into motorcycle in Islamabad: sources

Two motorcyclists were injured after a US diplomat's car rammed into their vehicle late Sunday, sources.

The accident happened at the Secretariat Roundabout on Shahra-e-Dastoor at 9.40pm.

The injured persons were shifted to PIMS hospital, sources added. 

Earlier this month, on April 8, US Defence and Air Attaché Joseph Emanuel Hall's car ran a red light and rammed into a motorcycle in the federal capital, killing one man on the spot and injuring another.

The Foreign Office had later summoned the United States Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale to protest the killing of the young man. According to Foreign Office spokesperson, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua recorded a strong protest with the US envoy, who expressed grief over the incident and assured full cooperation from the US embassy in investigating the incident.

The diplomat was let go by police after registration of a case after the Foreign Office (FO) said he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. The victim's family then petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the placement of the diplomat's name on the Exit Control list. The court had observed that diplomatic immunity does not permit killing someone.

The federal government on April 24, however, informed the court that the diplomat could neither be arrested nor tried. The Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Raja Khalid asserted that the diplomat’s name was in the 'black list' so he could not leave the country, however, he added that placing the official’s name in the ECL was a 'long process.'

He added that the Vienna Convention ensured immunity to any accident of diplomats occurring during official duty. "A trial can only be held if the immunity is withdrawn," the reply stated further.