ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has recommended disciplinary action against a PIA official and an inquiry into an ASF officer over alleged misconduct with parliamentarians, expressing serious concern over the behaviour of staff and directing the relevant authorities to ensure proper training in public dealing.
The meeting of the Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges was held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi. Senators Saadia Abbasi, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, Faisal Saleem Rahman, Jan Muhammad and Dost Ali Jessar attended the meeting, while Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail, mover of a privilege motion, participated through Zoom.
The committee first considered the privilege motion moved by Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail regarding alleged misconduct by Saima Rana, a cabin crew member of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), during PIA flight PK-326 from Quetta to Islamabad on February 7, 2026.
The matter had been discussed in an earlier meeting, where the committee had recommended that the concerned official contact Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail and tender an apology to resolve the matter.
However, the senator informed the committee that no one from PIA had contacted him. He subsequently sought disciplinary action against the official, including dismissal from service.
The committee expressed serious concern over the conduct of PIA staff. The chairman also referred to an issue raised on social media regarding the alleged smuggling of cigarettes from Multan Airport and observed that such incidents and the attitude of PIA officials could damage the reputation of the national airline.
The committee recommended that PIA conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the concerned official in accordance with the relevant rules and law. The privilege motion was subsequently disposed of.
The committee then considered a privilege motion moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri regarding alleged misconduct by an Airport Security Force (ASF) official deployed during the check-in process for Emirates flight EK-601 on July 24, 2026.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri told the committee that while travelling to London, an ASF official checked her hand-carry bag and questioned her about the foreign currency she was carrying.
She said she had offered to count the foreign currency at a side office as required, but the ASF officer opened her bag at the desk, where three other bags were already being checked. She alleged that her hand-carry bag was mixed with the other bags during the checking process.
The senator said she asked the officials to take her bag to a side room, but the duty officer allegedly behaved improperly and did not listen to her concerns.
She questioned whether such an attitude could be shown towards a parliamentarian; the treatment of ordinary members of the public by security personnel could also be a matter of concern.
A senior Airport Security Force (ASF) officer expressed regret over the incident and tendered an apology to the senator. He assured the committee that the matter would be taken up with the concerned authorities and Pakistan Customs.
The committee recommended that ASF personnel be provided appropriate training in dealing with members of the general public.
Chairman Committee Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi endorsed the senator’s observations and directed that lower-level ASF staff be properly trained in public dealing.
The committee further recommended that an inquiry into the incident be completed within 15 days and directed that the officer found responsible be produced before the committee at its next meeting.
Meanwhile, a privilege motion moved by Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto against Abdul Sattar Hakro, Deputy Commissioner, District Keamari, Karachi, was deferred due to the officer’s illness.
The motion concerned the deputy commissioner’s alleged failure to meet the senator at a specific time previously confirmed by him, failure to inform the senator of any change in the scheduled meeting time, and failure to respond to his telephone call or make any effort to contact him.
Another privilege motion moved by Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, against the Executive Director of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Islamabad, was also deferred.
The motion related to alleged willful non-compliance with the directions of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and non-provision of the requisite information. The matter was deferred as the NAVTTC executive director was abroad.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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