Criminal immunity

This past weekend, Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall, the air and defence attache of the US Embassy, killed a young motorcyclist in a road accident in Islamabad. Instead of arresting the accused, police officials let him go, despite the fact that the colonel had committed a series of crimes, including voluntary manslaughter and breaking traffic laws. It is tragic that a young man lost his life due to his criminal negligence.

I hope a thorough investigation is made in the case and the culprit is punished in accordance with the law of the land. The US Embassy should cooperate with the investigating agency.

Javaid Bashir

Lahore

*****

The death of a young man after being hit by the US defence and air attache’s car this Saturday brought back memories of the harrowing 2011 tragedy, wherein two men were shot dead by US defence contractor Raymond Davis. The CCTV footage of the incident vividly shows that the diplomat’s SUV jumped a signal and rammed into the motorcycle. But, as was the case with Davis, the police cannot arrest Colonel Hall because he happens to have diplomatic immunity. This diplomatic immunity is granted on an understanding that the same would be done for Pakistani diplomats in other host countries. What we seem to not be questioning is whether reciprocating privileges is more important than the prevalence of justice?

Why has no Pakistani diplomat has ever been involved in such offences. Are they more careful and adhere to the laws? Do we know our limits and respect the host country and not take unnecessary advantage of the blanket immunity bestowed upon us by the UN? Perhaps the last answer seems to be the sanest. The intensity of this situation can be realised considering the state of the deceased’s family, given that the ‘driver’ of the car that killed their son will likely be exonerated of his crime.

Mohammad Khalid Bhatti

Rawalpindi