Family of Pak man killed in road mishap involving US mission's vehicle protests

The family of the Pakistani man killed in a road accident involving the vehicle of an American military attache today protested here demanding his arrest and a ban on leaving the country.

Ateeq Baig, 22, was killed and another person injured when the bike they were riding was hit by the SUV driven by US defence and air attache Col Joseph Emanuel Hall in Islamabad last week.

The US has said that the American military attache at the US embassy in Islamabad, who is charged with causing the death of the Pakistani national and injuring another in the road accident, enjoys diplomatic immunity and cannot be arrested or detained.

The police registered the case but did not arrest the diplomat as he was protected under international immunity.

However, police have asked the interior ministry to not let him leave the country during investigation of the case.

Baig's father Mohammad Idrees took part in the rally near the place of accident along with other family members.

Talking to media, he said that the family wants justice.

"Nobody either from the US embassy or Pakistan government contacted us after the accident," he said.

Idrees rejected that the family was ready to pardon the accused after receiving blood money, saying "we want justice".

He also asked the chief justice of the Supreme Court to take a suo moto cognisance and stop the accused from leaving the country.

Pakistan has already lodged a formal protest with US Ambassador David Hale, who expressed sympathy for the victim's family and assured cooperation with the investigation.

The Foreign Office has said that Pakistan conveyed to the US Ambassador that justice will take its own course in accordance with the law of the land and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.