A Senate committee has expressed concern over alleged inappropriate conduct by Airports Security Force (ASF) personnel while scanning parliamentarians and passengers at Karachi’s airport and directed that the concerned official be summoned to the next meeting.
The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi to consider various privilege motions.
Taking up a privilege motion moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri concerning the alleged misconduct of ASF personnel, the committee reviewed an inquiry report it had sought last month.
The chairman informed members that the official concerned had been transferred to another location.
Senator Saadia Abbasi emphasised that the matter concerned ordinary citizens as well as parliamentarians, warning that alleged misuse of authority and inappropriate searches could create a negative public perception of elected representatives.
Senator Zehri questioned the legal provisions under which authorities could search passengers’ belongings, stressing that such searches should occur only when security required them and strictly in accordance with the law. She noted that the official should present his position and explain the legal authority for such actions.
The chairman directed that the official and other relevant officers be summoned to the next meeting, and instructed authorities to arrange professional training for airport personnel to ensure passengers are treated respectfully.
Senator Zehri had raised the privilege motion in a previous meeting on Sept 11 over alleged misbehaviour by ASF officials during check-in for an Emirates flight on July 24, when an official searched her hand-carry bag and questioned her about the cash she was carrying.
The post ASF Officials Summoned for Misbehaving With Passengers at Airport appeared first on ProPakistani.