Senators concerned about Col Joseph’s flight to US

ISLAMABAD: The issue of US Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall echoed in the Senate Tuesday, as Acting Chairman Saleem Mandviwala directed the minister concerned to make a statement in the House.

Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad raised the issue on a point of public importance and wondered one morning, they might learn that Dr Shakil Afridi had also been shifted to the United States.

He pointed out court proceedings were under way and the court had also ruled that he did not enjoy immunity but even then he was allowed to fly out of Pakistan.

The Jamaat-e-Islami senator noted that the court had also called for putting his name on the exit control list (ECL). “It is a matter of national dignity and security. Already Raymond Davis had insulted Pakistan and claimed thousands of Pakistanis were handed over to the United States by the government of Pakistan and the parliament had remained silent on that,” he said.

Senator Mushtaq said that Fata was made the largest hunting field for the United States, which had carried out 400 drone attacks in the tribal areas and likewise, the United States was building the largest embassy in Pakistan, which would be the largest even in the region while on the contrary, it was imposing restrictions on Pak diplomats.

The senator wanted the House to take notice of it and the government should brief the House on this

matter.

The chair assured the senator that the minister would be called to make a statement in the House.