ASF officer and PIA official face inquiries after senator complaints

The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has ordered an inquiry within 15 days into the alleged misconduct

Islamabad: The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has ordered an inquiry within 15 days into the alleged misconduct of an Airports Security Force official during a security check of Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri at Islamabad Airport and directed that the officer held responsible be produced before the committee at its next meeting.

The committee, which met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, also recommended disciplinary action against a PIA cabin crew official after Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail complained of alleged misconduct during a flight from Quetta to Islamabad.

The committee said the conduct of public dealing staff was a serious matter and stressed that officials dealing with passengers and citizens should be properly trained.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri told the committee that while travelling to London on Emirates Flight EK 601 on July 24, 2026, an ASF official checked her hand carry bag and questioned her about the foreign currency she was carrying.

She said she offered to count the cash in a side office, but the official opened her bag at the main desk where other bags were already being checked. She also said her bag was being mixed with the other bags and that her request to move it to the side room was not accepted.

The senator raised concern over the manner in which she was treated and said such behavior toward a parliamentarian also raised questions about how ordinary passengers might be treated.

A senior ASF officer expressed regret and apologized to the senator. The committee directed that ASF personnel should receive proper training in dealing with the public. It also ordered an inquiry into the incident within 15 days and directed that the officer found responsible be brought before the committee.

The committee also took up the privilege motion of Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail concerning alleged misconduct by Saima Rana, a PIA cabin crew staff member, during PIA Flight PK 326 from Quetta to Islamabad on February 7, 2026.

At its previous meeting, the committee had suggested that the concerned PIA official contact the senator and offer an apology so that the matter could be settled. Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail told the committee that no one from PIA had contacted him.

He then sought disciplinary action, including dismissal from service. The committee expressed concern over the conduct of PIA staff and also discussed an issue raised on social media regarding the alleged smuggling of cigarettes from Multan Airport. It observed that such acts and behavior by PIA officials could damage the reputation of the national airline.

The committee recommended that PIA conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the concerned official under the relevant rules and law. The privilege motion was then disposed of.

The committee deferred a privilege motion moved by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan concerning alleged misconduct by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications held on December 19, 2025.

Another privilege motion by Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto against Deputy Commissioner District Keamari Karachi Abdul Sattar Hakro was deferred because the officer was ill.

The motion had accused the deputy commissioner of failing to meet the senator at an agreed time, not informing him about a change in the meeting schedule and not responding to his telephone call.

A privilege motion moved by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan against the Executive Director of NAVTTC Islamabad was also deferred because the official was travelling abroad. The motion concerned alleged failure to follow directions of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and failure to provide required information.