LAHORE, Nov 18: Six passengers, who were arrested on Thursday by the Airport Security Force, secured their bail from a court of competent jurisdiction on Friday. Muhammad Azhar, Muhammad Ali Abbas, Muhammad Arshad, Oan Akbar, Osman Pal and Khan Malik were booked by the Sarwar Road police station on charges of attacking ASF officials and creating hindrance in the official duty and disturbance in the airport lounge.

The passengers were among 20 ticket-holders, who were allegedly thrashed by the ASF for protesting against delay in the departure of their flight (PK-405) to Karachi early on Thursday.

The ASF CSO, Lt-Col Farhat Pervez Kiyani (retired), however, denied the allegation that the protesting passengers were baton-charge .

He explained: “When the passengers were informed that the flight would depart some six hours late from its schedule time, they got flared up. The protesting passengers tried to hinder all other flight operations. A few of them stopped passengers arriving here from Doha, but then gave way on the persuasion of the ASF.

“When the crew of Islamabad flight (PK-356) entered the departure lounge, the rowdy passengers blocked their way to approach the aircraft. Again on the security force’s request, they allowed the crew to go. However, when the announcement of departure of the Islamabad flight was made they blocked the boarding gate. The ASF once again requested the passengers to be calm and cooperative, but six of them refused to listen and the force had to take an appropriate action.

“Had the ASF not reacted timely, the incident would have been turned into a law and order situation,” he said, claiming that the action was taken legally.

He also expressed the fear that “the mob might have damaged the airport assets and brought embarrassment to the country. Therefore, the matter was handled peacefully and the culprits were handed over to the police for legal action.”

It is pertinent to mention that all the passengers had tendered a written apology to the ASF before they were handed over to the police.