ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has put an American diplomat Col Joseph Emanuel Hall, who recently killed a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger in a road accident, on a black list to prevent him from leaving the country, revealed Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid on Tuesday as he appeared in Islamabad High Court, which is looking into the tragic incident.
Khalid told the court that placing the US diplomat’s name on the exit control list would entail a lengthy procedure, adding that it was not even possible to put him on trial in Pakistan since he enjoyed diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.
Hall, who is stationed in Islamabad where he works with the US Embassy as defense attaché, killed a Pakistani national, Atiq Baig, and injured his cousin, Raheel Ahmed, when he jumped a red light in his SUV and crashed into the other vehicle.
The incident took place on April 7, creating a sense of resentment among Pakistanis who have also witnessed unsavory incidents involving American diplomats in the past.
While the police rushed to the accident site, they could not accomplish much since Hall refused to step out of his vehicle or take an alcohol test.
The court was particularly riled by the way the law enforcement agency handled the issue, expressing displeasure with its officials and even observing that they “trembled” to see a foreigner.
The road accident happened at a time when US-Pakistan relations had already touched a new low.
The two countries have been trying to resolve a host of security and diplomatic issues. Their relations remain frosty, though a senior State Department official, Alice Wells, was in the federal capital just days ago to continue official engagements between the two countries.
Pakistan puts US diplomat on black list for killing biker in road accident
Pakistan puts US diplomat on black list for killing biker in road accident
- Col Joseph Emanuel Hall, defense attaché at the US embassy in Islamabad, killed a Pakistani national, Atiq Baig, when he jumped a red light in his SUV and crashed into the motorbike.
- Placing the US diplomat’s name on exit control list will entail a lengthy procedure, Deputy Attorney General tells the court.
Pakistan urges developed nations, global institutions to expand role in climate financing
- Pakistan is recognized among countries worldwide most affected by climate-induced disasters
- Planning minister stresses redesigning global financial system on principles of responsibility, equity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal this week called on developed nations and international financial institutions to play a greater role in helping developing countries adopt green technologies at lower costs, state-run media reported.
Pakistan has suffered frequent climate change-induced disasters over the past couple of years, ranging from floods, droughts, heatwaves, cyclones and other irregular weather patterns.
This year the South Asian country reported over 1,000 deaths from floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains and the melting of glaciers.
“He [Iqbal] said Pakistan has urged developed countries and international financial institutions to expand their role in climate financing to enable developing nations to adopt green technologies at lower costs,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday.
The minister was speaking at the Second Asia Energy Transition Summit held at Pakistani university LUMS on Saturday.
Iqbal warned that climate change is intensifying emergencies and increasing economic burdens on vulnerable countries, adding that financial incentives and concessional financing have become indispensable for sustainable climate action.
“He further emphasized the need to redesign the global financial system based on the principles of collective responsibility and equity,” APP said.
The minister noted that Pakistan has been introducing comprehensive reforms in its development agenda to promote renewable energy, solar power and green technological solutions.
The country, he said, possesses “strong solar potential,” a robust renewable energy market, a wide talent pool in engineering and science and an enabling environment for green innovation.
Pakistan has regularly urged developed countries to fulfill past pledges and provide easy access to climate funding without attaching conditions, especially at Conference of Parties (COP30) climate summits.
Islamabad was instrumental in getting the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) established at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022. The Loss and Damage Fund aims to help developing and least developed countries cope with both economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and slow-onset crises like sea-level rise and droughts.
