A Senate committee on Wednesday directed that an Airports Security Force (ASF) official be summoned to its next meeting over alleged inappropriate conduct while searching parliamentarians and passengers at Karachi airport.
The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, chaired by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, took up a privilege motion moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri on the matter.
Senators Jan Muhammad, Dost Ali Jaisar, Saadia Abbasi, Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan and Bushra Anjum Butt, along with senior officials, attended the meeting.
The committee reviewed the response to the inquiry report. Mr Mehdi told members that, according to the reply, the official concerned had been transferred to another location.
Ms Abbasi said the issue affected not only parliamentarians but also ordinary citizens. She added that such conduct could create a negative public perception of elected representatives.
Ms Zehri questioned the legal provisions that empower authorities to search passengers’ belongings. She said such searches should be carried out only when security considerations require them, and called for the official to be summoned to state his position and explain the legal authority for his actions.
Mr Mehdi directed that the official and other relevant officers be summoned to the next committee meeting.
