Nisar suspends FIA staffers, demands fresh inquiry

Action comes after new video of incident surfaces

RAWALPINDI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday suspended FIA officials for failing to adequately respond to a scuffle between passengers and female immigration staff at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) late last week.

The move came after a fresh video of the incident surfaced on Wednesday, prompting the interior ministry to order a fresh, independent inquiry into the matter.

The video, shot from a cell phone, showed two FIA lady constables slapping the young Norwegian woman Fouzia Umer, grabbing her by the hair and then dragging her even as the woman’s mother cried for help. Moreover, the video showed how other FIA officials stood by watching the incident unfold without intervening.

The clip belied earlier FIA claims that Umer and her mother Haseena, both Norwegian nationals, had misbehaved with officials at the immigration counter after asking for tissue papers.

On April 15, Haseena and her daughters Fouzia and Fatima had arrived at BBIA to board a Copenhagen-bound.

Fouzia asked FIA constable Noshila Bibi for tissue papers outside the toilets. The lady constable allegedly rudely replied that it was not her duty to provide her with toilet papers. They exchanged harsh words and a scuffle soon ensued. Later, when the passengers reached the immigration queue, Noshila and another lady constable, Ghazala, reached the spot. The two FIA officials allegedly snatched passports of the women, tore their boarding passes, and beat Fouzia up.

After the incident, Airport police had booked Fouzia and her mother for obstructing FIA officials in their duty on a complaint filed by Inspector Nadeem Akhtar, who was shift in-charge of the FIA team.

Later on April 16, Fouzia’s father also submitted an apology to the police under pressure from FIA staff who had refused to return their passports.

After the video was aired by television channels on Wednesday, Nisar suspended the relevant officials and asked why FIA had delayed action against these officials.

Nisar directed Director Administration Ahmad Mukkaram to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within two days. An explanation was also sought from Airport Additional Director Abdur Rehman and airport in charge for poor inquiry. FIA Director General Muhammad Hamlesh suspended all immigration staff which was present at BBIA on April 15, including shift in-charge Inspector Nadeem and Constable Ghazala - seen beating up Fouzia.

Moreover, a show cause notice was issued to Additional Director Pervaiz Khan for giving a clean chit to the FIA staff.  Meanwhile, Mukkaram is expected to interview the two Norwegian women and record their testimony.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2017.