The Hindu : U.S. asks Pak. to lift diplomat's immunity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 09, 2003

International

International

U.S. asks Pak. to lift diplomat's immunity

Washington Jan. 8. The United States has asked Pakistan to withdraw the diplomatic immunity of its envoy to the United Nations, Munir Akram, after New York City prosecutors sought to bring misdemeanour assault charges against him as a result of a quarrel with a woman.

Marjorie Tiven, the City Commissioner in charge of U.N. issues, wrote to the U.S. mission here on December 26 requesting that the envoy's immunity be removed, according to Edward Skyler, the Mayor's spokesman. He said the Manhattan District Attorney's office had advised city officials that it was prepared to prosecute if Mr. Akram's immunity was lifted.

Pakistan has not yet informed the U.S. of any decision. The State Department lodged its request with Pakistan on December 28, media reports today said.

On December 10, the New York City police were summoned by an emergency call to a residence in Manhattan, police officials were quoted as saying.

Marijana Mihic, 35, told the operator that a man whom she identified as her husband had smashed her head into a wall and that her arm hurt, according to the police dispatcher's notes of the conversation.

She said the man had hit her before. "Female caller states husband has diplomatic immunity," the dispatcher noted.

When police officers arrived, Ms. Mihic said that Mr. Akram, 57, was her "boyfriend" (not husband as she first told the police) and that after an argument with him she had tried to leave, The New York Times reported. "He (Akram) prevented her from leaving, he grabbed her and she fell," said Brian Burke, a police spokesman.

The police officers at the scene reported that Ms. Mihic had a bruise on her head.

Mr. Akram was at the residence when the police arrived and identified himself as an Ambassador, the daily said. "There was nothing really that the officers could do," Lt. Burke said.

U.N. envoys enjoy immunity from local criminal prosecution.

A spokesman for the Pakistani Mission today said that Mr. Akram and his friend had reconciled.

"The Ambassador and his friend both strongly believe that there is no basis for any legal action in this matter," said Mansoor Suhail, the spokesman.

"And they have both communicated that belief to the concerned authorities."

Once the police officers arrived at the residence, Ms. Mihic seemed to become less alarmed, and she refused medical attention when an ambulance from the city's Emergency Medical Service went to the scene, city officials said.

The District Attorney's office advised Ms. Tiven that Mr. Akram could be prosecuted for a misdemeanour charge of third degree assault, a law enforcement official said.

She wrote to Patrick F. Kennedy, a senior diplomat at the U.S. mission here, with the State Department lodging its request with Pakistan on December 28.

The incident comes at a bad time for the Ambassador as Pakistan has taken a seat on the 15-nation Security Council for a two-year term. — PTI

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