Saudi official injured in brawl at Islamabad airport
Colonel Sukhari was off to Riyadh when he allegedly refused to be checked at the airport. He also slapped an Airport Security Force (ASF) official when security officials insisted. In turn, the ASF official thrashed him and his son, injuring them both.
ASF claimed that he was a protocol officer, while the Saudi ambassador in Pakistan claimed that he was a military attaché at the consulate.
Speaking to the media after the incident, Sukhari said that he did not refuse any security check and was thrashed after he tried to stop officials from misbehaving with his son.
“Can I do this? I did not refuse any security check. My son and I got ourselves checked at two security checks,” he told the media.
He added that he will initiate a case against the ASF for torturing him and his son.
Sources say that the CCTV footage at the airport has been seized on the orders of the chief security officer and all ASF officials have been summoned.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has sought an inquiry report from in to the incident from FIA within 24 hours.
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After reading the comments and seeing the picture of the injured man i just want to say a few things which are bitter but real. Yes Saudis treating Pakistanis in their country quite badly but has anyone thought why ??? Pakistanis are not angels...most of the dirty work and crimes are done by them....they are the masters of forgery and kings of creating problems. If you just see the labour court in Saudi Arabia 70% of the cases belongs to Pakistanis and 90% of those cases are completely based on lies. They dont want to work but yet want to be paid. On the other hand Indians are also there and they started gaining more respect for their hard work and honesty. Hardly you see an Indian is involved in a dirty work but on the other hand all the dirty business you will see some Pakistani is involved in it. I am not justifying or taking colonel's side .....if he slapped the ASF official he should be treated and taught a good lesson so he will not dare to think low about Pakistani nation but its us who gave and created bad impression about our nation. If he was physical then he was dealt right because he should understand that the Pakistani security forces are not their to take this nonesense. At the end i just want to write ......this incidence shows, as a nation what is our respect in other countries and how people have made their impression about us ....we can slap people but we cannot claim respect and change their minds unless we change ourselves.
The entire incident shall be visible in CCTV footage. once the same is made public justifiable comments can be made and not based on media reporting which, at times, are distorted. But one thing which is seen from the photo, along with the article, is the injured Saudi official. Even if he is wrong ASF or any other Pakistani official has no right to injure him. That is certainly beyond their power. This shows the mindset of ASF or similar police officials in behavioral dealings with people.
Well I can say from personal experiences as I grew up in KSA the people are nice but blunt especially towards non Arabs. Since they employ foreigners and a large number of them from Pakistan are low paid workers so by enlarge commonly a sense resonates amongst the masses that Pakistanis are labourers only. But this doesn't give them or anyone the right to mistreat. But Pakistanis do get mistreated. I always had problems with security staff not for myself but for others when they would be literally be treating them like animals. I would eventually run in problems trying to defend the poor souls.
I don't think we have a liking for each other as common ppl. Saudi common man takes us for granted as we come from a poor nation, they like our strength, cheap labour and weapons. We like their oil, aid and affinity because of the holy cities.
True respect that resonates from the heart is between us and Turks. My message for my Saudi friends is brother if you think love could be bought we would have fallen in love with US as they give us max aid. But it's contrary to that. Respect begets respect! Just because Saudis are unfair we cannot be unjust to another Saudi. Also just because our leaders are corrupt or ask for aid doesn't mean we should look at every Pakistani with hatred and disrespect! Let's propagate good thoughts on both sides with some sense and balance!
Maybe I am a bit dense but in the pic is the injured guy a Pakistani or Saudi?????
@Majed: "Anyway, its individual indecent i hope and its treated in court.wait and see!"
Why did your fellow Saudi call Pakistanis as "servant class"? Is that what Saudis think of Pakistanis? He must have got that attitude against Pakistanis from Saudi society. Be honest. Do Saudis look down on Pakistanis because they are not Arabs?
@buzkush: " We are a better people then this lets not stoop to the level of Indians, Americans and Europeans"
Excuse me but when have Americans, Europeans or Indians torn a visitor's clothese and assaulted him to the point that he bleeds?
The nerve of the ASF guy. Misbehaving with a Saudi. NO MORE OIL.
Fight between a filthy rich and a filthy poor. The cctv recording will never be shown to the Pak people because our donor get hurt.
We must understand one thing that if someone "misbehaves" in any manner, he still has to be dealt with properly and in accordance with the law. Five uniform men jumping in with their colleague and beating up a foreign guest & his son for some harsh language or even a slap is not the manner of a disciplined force it rather gives a mercenary outlook, a characterless regimented gang.The whole scenario has also a really bad aspect, there is no report of any officer at the site of intervening to stop the beating or ordering his men to back off. it shows a real lack of discipline and training. what these men will do in a real threat situation? Unfortunately in this incident it is not the Saudi Nation which is on trial for misbehaving with Pakistanis here and there, it is the Pakistani nation. Our ties with Saudi nation are not something we can take lightly for our some misplaced ego. ASF draws mostly its human resources from police and army, and in recruitment parochialism works, not merit. I have seen this force misbehaving with Pakistanis all the time. This time somebody put this force in order and we should induct the best available human resource that we can find in this Country. We are a better people then this lets not stoop to the level of Indians, Americans and Europeans. And we should follow our traditions and severely punish those who have brought this disgrace upon us. And I personally apologise to the Saudi nation, for this is not us, we have a great respect and kind feelings towards all Saudis.
Woow. I am surprised and shocked to see this hate in this page towards Saudi.I thought relations between Saudi & Pakistanis are beyond any doubts !!.I should speak it up with my all Pakistani Friends here in Riyadh tonight.I hope no black feelings below surface.
Anyway, its individual indecent i hope and its treated in court.wait and see!
Majed Riyadh
@Abu Ashhad:
Well, if Saudia punish all Citizens of Pakistan by raising visa fee & turn-around time because ASF incident her revenge is off the mark & very immature. One controversial incident should not bring a Kingdom down into a mud-wrestling pit. ASF is a Security authority who follow New Strict Protocol and they treat all same regardless. These days a person with any Race or Face is a prospective bomber or terrorist, how can a guard tell one from another? I guess usually by his/her actions at the gate also if he follow rules etc.Above all it's for our own safety, I would not get on a plane if the guards are sleeping when I pass them, who knows who else they have let go. Pak security agencies must be free of any threat or coercion to do their job professionally. It is such incidents when hijackers and suicide bombers sneak past the check point. For example those fifteen famous Saudi 9/11 bombers or even Osama who sneak past the check posts & crossed the border into Pakistan. Respect the authority and just come home fast & safe.
I am a Pakistani. Saudis are good people (generally). If they respect Americans it is because American behave and are decent people (Generally).
We (Pakistanies) on the other hand are not very straight people. We must raise our level - so that people respect us. I have travel world and have seen world. You get respect - when you respect yourself.
Just look at yourselves - and find out honestly - what is good with us. Simply Visit a THANA (Police Station) for 5 hours and you will find out what WE (Pakistanies) are. You will find out that Each THANA is a Torture cell - which us used for Helping the powerful against the Weak. Look at yourself - our NATIONAL Assembly MNAs, MPAs are on FORGED Degrees and to the max SHAME - they are still sitting in National Assembly. And not even ONE is given a ONE Minute Sentence.
I mean - what are you talking about. Giving you Respect at Saudi Airport - First learn to Respect yourself
We are a country - where our CHIEF Justice was Looking for Justice
indeed it’s a very sad incident but it’s not time to over react and blame to Saudi people and vice versa. BTW I just informed by travel agent that Now Sauidi embassy has increased the umrah visa fee and from now visa will take at least 15 days … I don’t know but if it’s true so it may have some relation with that incident. I hope this will not become egoistic issue for Saudi government and at the other hand, our government must take serious measurement to avoid such incidents. InshAllah this small event cannot become the reason of hatred between the people of both nation.
Good really good ! This saudi official misbehaved and thats the punishment he should get .... At their airports they really treat Pakistani, Bangladeshi as dirt .. Good job ASF
@Sheharyar: Next time visit Saudi Arabia on American passport and then see the difference.
@PakShock: It cross my mind that who has done this, wants to achieve what you had recommended
Saudi observer
@Muhammed: Thanks I am a Saudi and I am sad for what happens, and lets not jump to conclusions, investigations will prove who is wrong and who is wright,
@Charles Nelson:
kindly elaborate
Normally, all Arab people and Arab diplomats enjoy a respect from Pakistanis and government officials, they feel relax in Pakistan. It’s miner sad incident between two brotherly countries, which should be resolved peacefully,
Always do the right thing
what
Wll done ASF, procedures are for all, and this saudi got what he deserved. He thought this was Saudia and he could do whatever he wanted. I wonder how he became a colonel. At least here in Pakistan Colonels are real colonels and know how to behave.
In reply to Imran above, You neither know Saudi Arabia nor do you know Pakistan. what’s more? We Saudis and Pakistanis love them both. People such as yourself are far too little to create hatred between the two great nations.
@Snafi speak for yourself. youre obviously a fundamentalist bigot.
@Charles Nelson: What were you doing there? Why didn't you try to prevent this ugly incident?
No doubt that this incident is very sad. I personally feel if Saudi official did something wrong - he should be put to law. Now if ASF did anything wrong (i hope Video will show it all) - they should also be punished to the max of law. I have been to Saudi Arabia and feel people there are normally Law abiding people and on the other hand Pakistanies are NOT law abiding people. It is likely that ASF to be blamed here. Note that I am a Pakistani and know the internal structure of Society - which is much more wrose than that of Saudi Arabia (Also Saudis have their problems as well)
I was with him until he assaulted the official. After that, whatever comes, comes.
To shoot Two Birds with one stone: Keep Iran as a Close Ally. Enough of this Threat and Coercion by capitalist buddies. By the way, Russia is stretching her hand to us anyway. Now please don't sell your self to anyone but only to the People of Pakistan, Promise that to yourself. There is more in neighbors' friendship than the Selfish, Rich friend's. We never wanted to be Rich like Arabs or modern like the West anyway, did we? Atleast not by becoming their shoes or door mat. May be it's God's way for a Wake-Up call to us.Tell me if you plan to get back so i can verify your claim btother.but you know 70% of crimes where come from, right?@Sheharyar:
These saudis are most racist people in the world. They behave Pakis like slaves in their country and slap our security personnel when asked to follow rules. ASF staff should have sent him to jail where he could spend couple of nights and learn how to behave nicely.
In reply to Imran above, You neither know Saudi Arabia nor do you know Pakistan. what's more? We Saudis and Pakistanis love them both. People such as yourself are far too little to create hatred between the two great nations.
I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 7 years, you should see the way they treat Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, and Indians; not only at their airports but in day to day affairs.
While the news is another clash of ego scenario, here is my puzzle:
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has sought an inquiry report from in to the incident from FIA within 24 hours."
Was he also not under 24 hour notice to produce something, and is he working from London at midnight on this airport brawl?
Saudis give protection to our kicked-out Prime ministers; they give massive funds to our Jihadi army and they build mosques across DHAs of Pakistan, promoting religious hatred. So, as good loan receivers we shouldn't be thrashing their officials at our capital city airport. Never mind the daily torture hundreds of Pakistanis have to face across Saudi Arabia, specially at their Jeddah and Dam-am airports.
If this Saudi official really slapped some ASF personnel then he should thank God for not being thrown behind the bar after solid thrash. In fact it is our bad image allover the world which prompts others to misbehave.
This is not Saudi airport or Saudi city, where you can beat up a Pakistani, this is Pakistan.
A very sad and ugly incident. Instead of trying to prove each other wrong, it will be better to resolve the issue amicably.