Sindh

Alleged threats: Sharmila files case against fellow passenger

Pakistani American citizen accused of harrassing former adviser.

Hafeez Tunio June 01, 2011

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sharmila Farooqui has registered a case against a Pakistani American citizen identified as Ali Mirza on charges of threatening to kill her while they were on an Islamabad-Karachi flight.

A shouting match erupted between the two passengers and the PK301 staff had to intervene to calm them down. After they arrived in Karachi, however, they started fighting again and the airport security had to escort them to the airport lounge.

Farooqui complained that Mirza had suddenly started harassing her and threatening her.

Mirza, who is said to be a member of an influential family, maintained that he neither harassed nor threatened the former adviser. All he wanted to do was inquire about her health. Farooqui shouted at him when he did this. For her part, Farooqui has insisted that security officials arrest him as he wanted to kill her.

The Airport Security Force informed the airport police about the case and they took Mirza into custody. Sources said that he repeatedly told them that Farooqi had slapped him, therefore a case should be lodged against her. In the meantime, his friends and relatives reached the airport and took him away.

Farooqui, who is the secretary of information for the PPP women’s wing in Sindh, went to the police station and lodged a case (No. 165) under section 506 B (threatening to kill someone) and 504 (to bodily insult someone). There were reports that the police had taken Mirza into custody but later released him. Airport SHO Ghaffar Korai told The Express Tribune that as they rushed to arrest the man, he escaped with his people.

Quoting the statements of other passengers, Korai said that, “Mirza badly behaved with Miss Farooqui, harassed her and shouted/insulted the character of politicians, which led to scuffle between them in the plane”. They are tracing him with the help of civil aviation staff.

Attempts to contact Farooqui went in vain. However, her personal assistant said that she could not comment. He said that the fighting started when Mirza [allegedly] spoke against politicians, especially Asif Ali Zardari, in the first class cabin. “I went to receive her at the airport. The man came out and was shouting saying, ‘I am an American citizen and me tumhe dekh loonga’ [I’ll make you pay].”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (26)

Khawaja Jee | 13 years ago | Reply This story is one sided She started abusing first to the airhostess who were asking her to put seat belt on then when Mirza intervened he got thrashed also. Look at her.........

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply First of all there was no need to throw the boast that I am an American. If one is an American citizen he does not get a license to insult any Pakistani woman. The videos may not be complete and not give the whole story. If the lady was rude to the hostess, it may be bad but it was none of "an Alpha male's" business. Even in the videos one can sense the anger and disdain in Mirza's voice for the lady. A real man does not behave with any lady in public. No man with self respect would start bad mouthing a plitical party in a small area in public. There are political formum for the debates. One can hate a political party but not intimidate its supporters in their personal space. The problem is deep rooted against educated and strong women in Pakistan. Most common men cannot tolerate that. They are afraid of strong women and have bias against them. Here is a small proof that an old poodle of Mush talking about this same lady on the TV. A man of his age should be ashamed of talking about any woman like that in public. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igfXGCGi0xE&feature=related

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Bling Bling | 13 years ago | Reply She must have thought she was on a talk show. Good on ya, Mirza.

Nazia Fareed | 13 years ago | Reply strict punishment should be given to those males found involved into harrasment. This is purely harrasment case

Yousuf Hasan | 13 years ago | Reply This is not a new incident for Ms. Farooqui. A lady who was given extra importance by the present government without realizing the fact that she had a criminal record in the past and one can recall the memories of beginning of 20’s the criminal acts are on record. In this background why she was given so much importance one can very well understand. Mr. Mirza is an American citizen who is been given a license to rule whom every and where every they wish for. Aviation law does not accept any kind of physical abuse and it is the mater of aircraft safety. Both have violated the rule and both have to be punished for their act of crime. Both are influential and enjoy a status of in-law of Pakistan but in real they prove they are out-laws.

Passenger | 13 years ago | Reply @Andrea: Dear Andrea, I agree with you completely that I should own up to it and tell the authorities. However, there is slight hitch. Sharmila, he r family and friends are nothing less than goons. Furthermore, it seems you need to do a litmus test of the authorities here. Lastly, I am not interested in taking sides, its just that I saw that the whole episode and thus, I put the blame on the uncivilized and hypocritical Sharmila. I am appending a site hereunder feel free to see it. Decide and tell me if that is the way a public figure should behave. Remember this is only 10% of what hell she raised on the flight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke3STW7hh-s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWfguNz9d4 Cheers... :)

Andrea | 13 years ago | Reply @Passenger: If that is what you saw, why can't you own up to what you saw and tell the authorities. It seems you seem more interested in protected some loud mouthed expatriate Pakistani who would never dare speak up in the US but thinks he can abuse women in Pakistan. Put the guy in jail where he belongs for behaving like a brute.

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply Not supporting anyone since dont know the truth but I think we all should treat such disgraced politicians in the same manner as they are ruining our country.

Bilafond | 13 years ago | Reply Well done MIRZA. it is not about being female. Her bringing up is inoperative, they think they own this country. Watch her tantrums on TV.

Dropscene | 13 years ago | Reply @Addy: the Passenger cannot report to the Police because the Police will surely arrest him being a co-plotter in a scheme for murder attempt.... :

anniedarc | 13 years ago | Reply Typical. Both sides will always give conflicting versions and have friends to support them. The point to note is that even if Sharmila was the villain of the piece, gentlemen do'nt abuse or shout at women. This fellow must be an animal. Keep him in America.

Asim | 13 years ago | Reply Don't care who is right, as in my eyes both are wrong. Mr Mirza clearly knows that 95% if not more of the politicians in this country are corrupt, no need to contest that but abusing a lady is also wrong. However, Ms Sharmila is a very different of policitian as i have ever seen. Whenever she comes in a talk show she does not let anyone speak and simply enforces her point that she is right while everyone around her is wrong and stupid and so is the public there are stupid. Given the choice even after such an incident I would go with Mr.Mirza as I detest lying politician specially who think they are smart and everyone else is STUPID.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply I was in that ill fated flight flight. Believe it or not but the narratives here are so far off. Ms Sharmilla had actually and audaciously enough solicited for a rendezvous with the passenger....on his refusal , she went ballistic and the rest is history.

faris | 13 years ago | Reply Whenever a man and a woman fight I wonder why it's always the woman who comes out as a victim? Everything aside, I have no sympathies for Ms. Sharmila or Mr. Ali. they both behaved like uncivilized ppl and showed a tamasha to the whole world. Sharmila has displayed her rough talking ways many times on TV and this Ali Mirza guy also appears to be one of the lot. So let them fight and make a spectacle.

Addy | 13 years ago | Reply @Passenger: Why dont you go to the police and report what you saw. Im not trying to be sarcastic, but if this actually happened, it is your duty to help the poor guy out !

mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Ali mirza was saying the truth ....

MAD | 13 years ago | Reply Every other media/ news channel has reported the story as if it was Sharmila farooqui who started the shouting match and you've given a different story altogether. BTW no mention of the dispute between Ms farooqui and the air hostess. ET are you biased on this one or are you the only ones who are right? however Ms farooqui's reputation speaks for itself and a video shown by another channel clearly shows Ms farooqui slapping the guy and yelling maniacally.

Nasim Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Here, in US, nobody slaps you when you speak against the President. That is an assault and perpetrator should be dealt with accordingly. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion.

Salman Orangiwala | 13 years ago | Reply Look around the talk shows where this lady in question participates and literally broods over , bellowing her point as if ready to get a hold on the opponent group participants jugular vein . No wonder she slapped that poor fellar , infact the guy must be thanking his stars as Ms.Sharmila was not so Sharmeely after all and coud have kicked the wits out of the NRI .lolzzzzzz . Female chauvinism at its best . Such a shameful act should be deplored vehemently .

Haider Hussain | 13 years ago | Reply Since one was a politician and the other was a member of an "influential" family, I don't give a damn who abused and who slapped.

zia | 13 years ago | Reply since the PPP government has come into the power she has fought/complained against around four people inculding a cop deputed at Sindh Secretariat building. Every time she blames that people harrass her. This is very unfortunate, if influential women specially ministers and advisors are harrassed by people then what will be others.

faizan | 13 years ago | Reply If the incident is really what it was explained by Sharmila Farooqui then its a shameful act on part of Mr Mirza, but keeping in view the past record of miss Sharmila in particular and all the politicians in general we can not trust Miss Shermila.....and i believe Mr Mirza has done nothing wrong by speaking against politicians..at least he is one guy who could call a spade a spade....who would not like to use abusive language for politicians in present scenario??....Miss Shermila has a past record filled with character failures or at least allegations over her character so she why is she worried of some comments by a citizen....everybody knows whats her modes operandi to stand in the ranks of PPP.

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply Whether or not we agree with the PPP government of Ms. Farooqi is not the issue. The issue is that uncivilized behaviour by another person should not be tolerated. I would love to see what would happen to this abusive guy of he were to speak to a female passenger on a flight in the US like that- politician or not. He deserves the full force of the law. I can guarantee you this type of character is too scared to open his mouth like this in the US but he behaves obnoxiously like this in Pakistan. I see such types on the plane all the time on my flights from North America to Pakistan. They won't say a word to the Western staff but suddenly they become all abusive and demanding to locals since they think that a foreign passport makes them better. Shame on this coward. He deserves exemplary punishment for behaving like the coward he is towards a Pakistani woman.

Passenger | 13 years ago | Reply I was traveling on the same flight and it was Sharmila who slapped the other passenger. For god's sake and in the name of the whatever law we have here in Pakistan stop supporting these corrupt politicians.

Crazy Prince | 13 years ago | Reply points to be noted "the fighting started when Mirza [allegedly] spoke against politicians, especially Asif Ali Zardari"

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Only a characterless rich brat can behave this way with a lady. However, the culture of Pakistani politics is bases upon hate and not principles. I hope that irrespective of political affiliation, insulting and fighting a lady should be condemned by all. If he were a real man with a pair, he would not be picking on women. These coward bullies only are mean with women, children and older people. Being an American citizen myself I can assure you this coward and sissy of a man would not dare do this in a domestic US flight. In fact it would suffice for the lady to say that “she feels uncomfortable or threatened” and this stupid guy would be taken off the plane and to the prison. I am proud to say that the similarity in our names is only a coincidence and I have no relation with this lowlife. I hope that most Pakistanis stand up with this kind of goons and thugs.

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