Even more pathetic and pitiable was the spineless silence of PIA, the CAA and the ASF who were simply too dumbfounded
KARACHI: As a citizen, one would like to know how the airport authorities in Pakistan handle misbehaving, law-breaking or violent passengers. Across the globe, there are well-established standard procedures to handle such unruly situations. The victim, who may be a passenger or a staff member, would call the police on duty and within minutes the aggressor would be whisked away, charged and produced before a court of law.
What happened in Pakistan a few days back when the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism minister repeatedly pushed and assaulted a PIA manager at Islamabad airport was absolutely disgraceful. But even more pathetic and pitiable was the spineless silence of PIA, the CAA and the ASF who were simply too dumbfounded, scared and servile to handle an ugly situation that involved a ‘minister.’
One sees scores of ASF personnel at the airport but none came forward to apprehend the aggressor. Why did the CAA, the victim or his bosses not call the ASF or the regular police to arrest the assailant or to register a case against him?
It was for the Gilgit-Baltistan government to sack the tourism minister for his behaviour. The three state institutions — PIA, CAA and ASF — primarily responsible for controlling such unruly situations withdrew and surrendered. The people of Pakistan who wish to see their state organisations perform more effectively are concerned and ashamed of this timidity, cluelessness and cowardice.
Naeem Sadiq
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2018.
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