Police have run into hurdles in their investigation of a case involving Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel who allegedly assaulted a Saudi military officer last week, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.
According to sources, police have been denied access to ASF officials after a complaint had been filed by Group Captain Al Ashri Shukri Saeed of Saudi Air Force, who was reported to have been seriously injured after ASF officials pounced upon him at Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) on May 31.
Police officials have confirmed to The Express Tribune that a written request had been made to ASF authorities at the airport, requesting custody of the ASF officials allegedly involved in the brawl.
Instead, ASF authorities informed the police that a high-level inquiry, headed by ASF director-general was under way to determine facts surrounding the incident and ASF officials could not be handed over to the police.
Moreover, ASF authorities at the airport have also denied police access to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident.
When contacted, Civil Lines Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Malik Tariq confirmed that a written request had been made for the custody of the ASF officials and for the CCTV footage.
Tariq said that after being denied access by ASF authorities, the police had written a letter to the defence secretary to expedite their requests, adding that there had been no response from the defence ministry as of yet. Tariq said the police could not reach a definite conclusion in the case without recording statements of the accused ASF officials and watching the CCTV footage of May 31.
ASF said, Saeed, who was attending a professional course at the National Defence University, got into an argument with security official Idris Ahmed when his son was called back by the security staff to follow the security check-in procedure again.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (23)
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@khalid khan - please keep your fabricated stories to yourself. I have never seen TSA officials have never been rude or used bad language, theyr always polite and courteous. Yes they might do stupid things in the name of security but they always treat that person humanely and with respect the whole time. If the americans were like that they would not be the country that they are today.
Hats off to ASF for upholding the law of the land. These arrogant Saudis think they are above the law. They treat our citizens like dirt. So it's good that this saudi guy has been taught a good enough lesson!
What will happen to us? After Chacha Sam, Saudi Maliks are also going to turn the dole tap off! Now we have to stand on our own two poor rickety feet.
I support the actions of the ASF personnel. The Saudi diplomat was rude and abusive from the onset and reportedly slapped the accused, which resulted in the altercation. The ASF guard acted in self defense and a bit of hurt ego.
For those who question if a similar situation would have occurred with the Westerners, probably NOT! Because a westerner would not dare slap an officer in uniform, the westerners make arrangements in advance for trouble free processing through airport security.
people who r favoring ASF for their action..let me ask them ,does ASF have guts to do the same thing to an American ?? there have been many incidents of pakistanis getting bad treatment at american airports but americans r treated like GODS in pakistan..a real shame for us
Simple solution folks without running into generalisations and painting an entire nation bad: A thorough investigation must be conducted and if any laws were broken, violators must be held to account.
That is how a civilised nation works. Stand up for justice and be counted.
Thanks.
1) However the Saudis reportedly treat others has no bearing on our behaviour. 2) Because there certainly are more than a few, does that make every Pakistani a drug-smuggling terrorist? 3) I have lived in Riyadh for just under 20 years, and have not personally seen bad treatment though I have heard of isolated cases of eggregious mistreatment. Yes, there are some Saudi scumbags, but which country is scumbag-free? Is Pakistan? 4) My personal experience is that the vast majority of Saudis are polite, courteous and eminently reasonable and honest in their dealings.
Shame on ASF and its supporters. If another nation is racist, does it mean we should behave the same way. We, the people of Pakistan are more educated, civilized and cultured than most of the developing world. Showing respect to our guests, travelers and other outsiders is in our genes. If this Saudi National had refused body check, he should have been restrained and arrested. Beating him and then showing support to this brutality is shameful.
Well, if this would have happened in some western country, I am sure Mr. attaches attitude woulds have been entirely different. The ASF was only doing what it is assigned to do. The Airport security doesnt go beating people for entertainment unless they feel its necessary to sudue violent passanger. Lets not forget the threat of terrorism comes mainly from that region.
The ASF should not have beaten the guy regardless of what he said etc. They could have simply handcuffed him and handed him over to the police if he was getting out of control but beating him to the point where he was bleading was not really worth the drama that's created afterwards.
ASF officials should be handed over to the police for taking matter in to their own hands PERIOD. They had no right to beat this guy up no matter where he is from or whatever he did or say about us. If this guy was misbehaving or not complying with their orders they should have stopped them from boarding the flights and handed them over to the police. That is what any professional airport security officers would do any where else in the world. This unfortunately proves that the ASF officials are not competent or professional regardless of what the situation was they are trained to follow the procedures which they clearly did not and rather acted immaturely.
@Uzair Javaid: I think you use the word literally, while literally not knowing the definition.
@Saad: I would like to see something similar happening to CIA and other US officials who literally spit on our national sovereignty.
Bravo ASF ! keep it up you did a fine job.
ASF guys did right thing......they must be protected and rewarded for following SOPs without considering anyone's nationality or status
Guys, please get realistic. It is not patriotic to behave non professionally at International borders. Mob justice is not the right thing to do anywhere, and there are several ways to counter someone. I believe our ASF guys do not have the proper training at all. An investigation need to be carried out to understand what happened exactly, rather than we 'patriotic' Pakistanis come here and express our anger based on our grievances with the Arabs. :)
I Salute ASF officials for doing this to this Saudi Guy... He needs to be treated even worst then this...
I lived 18 years in Saudi Arabia and we expats(specially Pakistani/Indian/Bengali) face the same biased and abusive language from Saudis everywhere...We have no other option but to suffer..
I am very happy that this Saudi guy is beaten like this for being Biased and I hope he will never forget this..!
Kudos to ASF
Why they should be taken in to custody, the didn't do any thing wrong
Now Saudis will try everything to make an Example out of these Officials of ASF so to prove that the value of slave or miskeen is nothing but to ultimately bow down to its master and i am pretty sure that Government of Pakistan will ultimately bow down to the pressure because afterall we are slaves of the Arabs and that Colonel of Saudia was right anyway. Also upon this Ocassion PMLN and PTI are again nowhere to be seen as both of these parties until recently are getting all dictations from Saudia for their everyday matters.