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DRAFT: Senate panel summons ASF official over alleged mistreatment of passengers at airports
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- Category: National News
- Focus keyphrase: Senate summons ASF official
- SEO title: Senate Summons ASF Official Over Airport Mistreatment
- Meta description: A Senate committee summoned an ASF official over alleged mistreatment of parliamentarians and passengers at Karachi airport, ordering staff training.
- Tags: Senate, ASF, Airports Security Force, Karachi airport, privilege motion, Samina Zehri, Waqar Mehdi, passengers
- Original element: explainer context tracing the case to its origin — the July 24 Emirates EK-601 incident, the September 11 committee meeting and the 15-day inquiry — plus the local angle for Karachi airport passengers
- Source: Dawn (21 Oct 2026, published 8:47 PM PKT)
- Story date: 21 October 2026
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ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Wednesday ordered that an Airports Security Force official be summoned over the alleged mistreatment of parliamentarians and passengers at Karachi’s airport, and directed professional training for airport personnel.
The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi to consider various privilege motions. Senators Jan Muhammad, Dost Ali Jaisar, Saadia Abbasi, Palwasha Khan, Bushra Butt and Samina Zehri attended with senior officials.
The committee took up a privilege motion moved by Senator Zehri about the alleged inappropriate conduct of ASF personnel. It reviewed the response received to an inquiry report that it had sought last month.
The chairman said a reply had arrived, stating the official had been transferred to another posting.
Senator Abbasi stressed that the matter was not confined to parliamentarians but also concerned ordinary citizens. She said alleged misuse of authority and inappropriate searches of passengers’ belongings could create a negative public perception of elected representatives.
Senator Zehri voiced serious concern over the alleged rude behaviour and stressed that passengers must be treated with dignity. She questioned the legal basis for searching passengers’ belongings, saying searches should only happen when security requires it and strictly under the law.
The chairman directed that the official and other relevant officers be summoned to the next meeting, and ordered professional training for airport personnel.
How the Senate summons ASF official case began
The dispute goes back to July 24, when Senator Zehri was checking in for Emirates flight EK-601 to London. She told the committee that an ASF official searched her hand-carry bag and questioned her about the cash she was carrying.
She said she offered to count the foreign currency in a side office under procedure, but the official opened her bag at a desk where three other bags were already open.
The committee first took up the motion on September 11, ordering a 15-day inquiry and production of the responsible officer. Wednesday’s session reviewed the outcome.
The BAP senator noted the first response had claimed all actions were lawful, while later information showed the official had been transferred. She insisted he appear in person to explain his legal authority.
Senate summons ASF official amid wider privilege business
The same meeting handled other privilege matters. A sub-committee under Senator Palwasha, with Senators Jaisar and Jan Muhammad, will examine a privilege motion against PIFD vice chancellor Hina Tayyaba Khalil and summon 13 people linked to the case.
Members also took up poor conditions at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. The chairman ordered an unannounced visit and accepted a written apology from Pims. The protection of doctors and patients has been a running concern in the capital’s hospitals.
For passengers, the message was clear: airport security staff will face fresh training, and the official at the centre of the Karachi airport complaint must answer questions in person — a reassurance for travellers on growing routes such as Pakistan-Maldives flights.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Senate summon the ASF official?
The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges summoned the official over alleged inappropriate conduct toward parliamentarians and passengers during checks at Karachi’s airport, following a privilege motion by Senator Samina Zehri.
What happened in the original incident?
On July 24, Senator Zehri said an ASF official searched her hand-carry bag and questioned her about cash she was carrying while she was checking in for Emirates flight EK-601 to London, opening her bag at a busy inspection desk.
What did the committee order?
The chairman directed that the official and other relevant officers be summoned to the next meeting, and instructed authorities to arrange professional training for airport personnel.
What else did the Senate committee discuss?
The committee formed a sub-committee on the PIFD vice chancellor matter, took up a privilege motion over poor conditions at Pims hospital in Islamabad, and deferred a motion against the communications minister. Senate panels have also been scrutinising the cosmetics bill and administrative changes at the Islamabad High Court.
