Inquiry ordered after video showing scuffle between ASF personnel and PIA passengers went viral last week. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has suspended top officials of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and also ordered an inquiry into a scuffle between PIA passengers and Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel at the Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) last week.
A mobile phone footage showing the brawl that took place on October 23 had gone viral on social media.
In the footage, passengers, onboard PIA flight PK-728 from Riyadh to Peshawar, and ASF staffers could be witnessed assaulting as well as using pejorative against each other. An enraged ASF official was also seen spitting at a passenger before hurling a chair at him, the same chair the disgruntled passenger had thrown at the official.
ASF official spits at, thrashes passengers at Islamabad airport
The incident took place after the Peshawar-bound flight was forced to land at the Islamabad International Airport due to bad weather.
The passengers were agitated because the national flag carrier failed to provide them any food or refreshments for over an hour. They vented their frustration by damaging property in the airport’s VIP lounge.
ASF personnel were told to control and pacify the passengers but they ended up worsening the situation through their unprofessional behaviour.
اسلام آباد ائیرپورٹ پر اے ایس ایف اہلکاروں کا مسافروں پر تشدد
— Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) October 23, 2019
مزید ویڈیوز دیکھیں: https://t.co/ptW8gC4xDR pic.twitter.com/oFNaLiqA1n
Aviation minister orders probe into IIA brawl
Taking strict action over the incident, Prime Minister Imran has directed to suspend all concerned officers including the airport manager, duty terminal managers of IIAP, the station manager PIA Islamabad and his team and start disciplinary proceedings against them, said a notification issued by the Aviation Division on Wednesday.
According to the notification, Airport Manager Tahir Sikandar and Duty Terminal Managers (DTMs) Zaheer and Malik Akram are directed to be placed under suspension and formal disciplinary proceedings under rules shall be initiated against them for not dealing with the situation in a professional manner.
Station Manager PIA Islamabad Pervez Naseer and his team have also been suspended followed by disciplinary action under the rules.
Moreover, a board of inquiry, headed by Brigadier Irfan Zafar, Director (North) ASF Rawalpindi, would also proceed against the responsible ASF officials under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. The inquiry board is directed to finalise its proceedings within 10 days.
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