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DG FIA takes notice of 'assault' on female passengers at Islamabad airport

Shakeel Qarar Published April 19, 2017

Director General (DG) Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) Amlish Khan on Wednesday took notice of the alleged assault of two female passengers by an FIA official at Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

According to the FIA report on the incident, Haseena Begum, along with her two daughters, was on her way to Norway last week when she complained to an FIA official about the lack of toilet paper in the restrooms.

When the officer rudely refused to help her, Haseena chastised her and slapped the official. The passengers were confronted by FIA official Nausheeba who retaliated by assaulting Haseena and her daughter.

Footage of the assault showing the FIA official slapping the passengers as bystanders looked on made the rounds on social media.

Following the incident, both parties filed cases against each other.

On Wednesday Haseena Begum's father submitted a written apology, while director FIA suspended the female official.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan took notice of the incident and asked for a report on the incident.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has also instructed the interior ministry secretary and aviation secretary to submit a report on the incident within three days.

Pakistan

Shakeel Qarar is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn News (TV), having been with the organization since 2012. His reporting covers crime, law and order, and security, with a specific focus on the Ministry of Interior and its subordinate agencies. He can be found on X at @Qarar009.

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LAST COMMENT

Apr 19, 2017 12:19pm

Take notice Form committee Get report Suddenly everything will be disappeared

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zebswati

Apr 19, 2017 12:29pm

Not responsibly of FIA officer to arrange toilet paper. But polite reply is part of his duty . Special course on how to deal with public must be compulsory part of training same as using a gun. At the same time Public must learn how be behave , I have seen Pakistani standing in cues and sitting on floors on foreign international airports and not a word coming out of their mouth but as the plane lands on Pakistani airport they suddenly change looks like the have become tigers!! ( just observe next time if you are travelling internationally) . Slapping an officer on duty is too much !!

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guzniabbas

Apr 19, 2017 12:31pm

All is well that ends well. However, no clapping can take place from one hand. I think, it was FIA Staff that should have taken caution and refrained herself for any hot arguments with International passengers from Sweden (of Pakistani origin). Anyhow, patch up report is good enough under given circumstances.

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Rkhan

Apr 19, 2017 12:38pm

FIA and other such agencies need fast moral and behavioral training to all their field staff interacting general public as rude talking/response of a query can make oneself annoyed at the time of haste and hurried. likely we all should have composed and tolerant feelings towards them keeping in view their tough duty and duty hours.

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on FLIP SIDE

Apr 19, 2017 12:40pm

You can only believe FIA's version of events - if you have never traveled abroad! most of them are rude to the core!

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paggri sambhal

Apr 19, 2017 12:53pm

I have seen that clip and my BP rose to above normal.I am in total disarray since then.These shameless officials should be behind bars by now but nobody cares in the part of world we live in.

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Mark

Apr 19, 2017 01:04pm

When the officer rudely refused to help her, Haseena chastised her and slapped the official. Who gives authority to passenger to attack and slapped the official woman in uniform? Everywhere in the world if you do it you will be prosecuted. That FIA official is not your maid that you can slapped her if she rudely answer you. If you take the law in your hand you will get the same result.

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A. A.

Apr 19, 2017 01:11pm

Did the women slap a FIA official for not providing toilet papers? Seriously? What would have happened if they had done the same in Norway?

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syed

Apr 19, 2017 01:18pm

Islamabad Airport is one of the pathetic Airports of Pakistan. Thrashing of travelers is daily routine at the Airport. No respect for general public.

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mustafa

Apr 19, 2017 01:18pm

No comments its time for clear action from any one incharge

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Dr Sid

Apr 19, 2017 01:27pm

At all airports FIA employees are rude incompetent and unprofessional! It represents politicization of institutions! All political appointees! Also domicile system has destroyed institutions!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 19, 2017 01:34pm

What else can he do?

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Sayyar Khan

Apr 19, 2017 01:45pm

Passenger assaulted FIA official first. So not sure why she is complaining about it.

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Asif

Apr 19, 2017 02:10pm

It's simple, Haseena Bagum and family need to realise that people who work hard to save them from hurting need a bit of respect. I bet if she was in Norway she must be trembling even asking for toilets.

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Faraz

Apr 19, 2017 02:12pm

Can the CCTV footage from the airport be made public to learn what really happened?

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A shah

Apr 19, 2017 02:22pm

Naya Pakistan.

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A Gujjar

Apr 19, 2017 02:27pm

This is nation mind set problem, everyone became tiger when he/she in landed in Pakistan and became chicken whenever they touch overseas , cause they know no one will be spare under the law, passenger never ever dare to do if he/she in any western /middle east airport. I'm sorry I have seen many case like but this mind set is big problem.

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Qamer

Apr 19, 2017 02:29pm

If a passenger assault an official at any European or American Airport, that is a big problem. Toilet tissues in a rest room finish fast and service at a Pakistan airport is not too good, tolerance and patience is a key to avoid any trouble.

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analyseS

Apr 19, 2017 02:32pm

The poor female FIA officer would pay the price by losing her job, while the passenger who started this whole fight by slapping FIA official just because of lack of toilet paper will get away with a written apology due to her influential background. That's our brand of justice in the country. You can get away with anything if you're rich while the poor will always have to pay the price.

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Mudathir Shah

Apr 19, 2017 02:36pm

No wonder the attacker Haseena Begum was an ex-Pakistani (Overseas Pakistani) living in Norway. They have the habit of bullying the Pakistani Government Officials and attacking them. I dare her and her daughter to say a single word to a White Norwegian officials. The ex-Pakistani Community should behave while in their former Country. Just because they send some foreign exchange to their relatives, it does not give them the right to slap the Pakistani officials. FIA personnel should have handled the case in a better way. Now the whole country will sympathize with the Attackers.

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Sana

Apr 19, 2017 02:39pm

lack of education all over the country

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abdullah

Apr 19, 2017 02:40pm

...ooops... all this over toilet paper!!! sums up mentality of our beautiful nation!

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Farooq jawed

Apr 19, 2017 02:41pm

And all this for the world to see at our Capitals Intl Airport. What is more tragic is that nothing will happen and this incident will be swept under the rug.........to be repeated over and over again.

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imran ali

Apr 19, 2017 02:44pm

CAA taking so much money as airport taxes but without any facilities as compared to other international airport..with no toilet papers,no hand wash ,comfort dirty ,no water for drinking plus rudeness of officials

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Uza Syed

Apr 19, 2017 02:51pm

Taking notice by the DG FIA and the chaudhry minister is not enough, they must resign or be fired henceforth. They are incompetent at best and accomplice and partner in crime at worst, they must go or forced to go. The Supreme Court of Pakistan must intervene to ensure that justice is done and citizens are protected from excesses of such barbarians.

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Amir

Apr 19, 2017 02:51pm

if this haseena begum slapped FIA she should have been arrested immediately But in Pakistan such people can slap officials as they have connections FIA needs to train it's staff how to handle such people professionally and embarrass them by presenting them in courts

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Uzair

Apr 19, 2017 02:54pm

Why don't we have a system within our airports to handle such issues? It is ridiculous that a potentially small problem is allowed to rise so much before any effort to resolve it is made. And that too in media and by the interior minister.

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kamal hasan

Apr 19, 2017 02:56pm

well haseen begum shouldnt had slapped the officer. no where in the world immigration officers are slapped. she should be taken to custody

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muftikhalid

Apr 19, 2017 02:56pm

we must learn to respect each other and control our tongue when come across any incident against our wish.

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Apr 19, 2017 02:57pm

This is what the passenger had learnt to behave while her stay in Norway. I visit Pakistan very few months and I have never been maltreated by any official because my mannerism, character and etiquettes comes first.

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Akram

Apr 19, 2017 03:00pm

Is it FIA's responsibility to provide toilet paper in airport toilets?

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Muhammed asim Rao

Apr 19, 2017 03:10pm

it seems the passenger lady started it all - she must also be punished and of course the officers should not have responded in the manner that she did. she should be punished as per rules as well.

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nadeem sharif

Apr 19, 2017 03:26pm

I have seen the clip on the social media. scenes are not great. FIA Team should be more professional to handle the situation. there were many spectators, including government officials, and no one even tried to stopped. FIA lady is appearing as wrestling on tv. handling 3 in one time - slapping, pushing and pulling hairs. I don't know who and how this was started, but the video clip tells the story that this is FIA fault. FIA hierarchy on ground was not effective. and failed to perform.

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MJS

Apr 19, 2017 03:35pm

Good to hear that....

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Concerned Pakistani

Apr 19, 2017 03:51pm

@zebswati This is one sided story to save the culprit. There must be CCTV footage to substantiate their claim that the lady slapped the official. However in the footage it is clear that the FIA lady is slapping and grabbing the lady by hair. Even if the lady slapped the official should have arrested the lady as per law instead of thrashing her.

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pakistani

Apr 19, 2017 04:22pm

So did someone put the toilet tissue in the toilets or not.

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Justice

Apr 19, 2017 04:27pm

The FIA have commited unprovoked adsault and battery. Such aggrevated crimnal assault and failure of FIS to intervene and stop the commisioning of the crime by FIA agents amounts to collective culpability. DG FIA along with the lady GIA official official are solely tesponsible for the offience. Falsly blaming the passenger and creating false pretext to justify crimnal act by FIA lady official is unacceptable. The video clip provide sufficient and creditable justifying immidiate termination of not only the crimnal FIA official but they mus be convicted and locked up in jail to protect other passangers. The DH FIS must be fired from his job without any excuse.

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hasnain

Apr 19, 2017 04:38pm

Both parties had to be dealt according to Pakistan police rules in such situation. Regardless of their background. If international passengers are coming back due to relation with this soil then they also have to respect it even if their home country is far less than their standards

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Miqbal Rangoonwala

Apr 19, 2017 05:52pm

Look how committed corrupt criminal are we?

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Miqbal Rangoonwala

Apr 19, 2017 05:54pm

Are such cruel people allow to enjoy and enter a peaceful land Norway?

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M.Saeed

Apr 19, 2017 07:53pm

What a great service to the nation by the Honorable Interior Minister! Instead of disciplining staff for indifference and rude behavior inviting angry reaction from the passengers clearly visible in the video, he simply took his gracious notice and asked for a REPORT!

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News analysis

Apr 19, 2017 07:54pm

We are fed up of slapping and clapping. Please devote some attention to better governance, speedy automation in serving to people of Pakistan, that ofcourse includes availability of tissue paper as well as MRP to the applicants.

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soul..

Apr 19, 2017 08:07pm

@hasnain who is respecting who is clearly visible.... can you imagine any of your family female members being thrashed like that? !! The behavior of the FIA official is disgusting... I am surprised at how people are defending her. This country can never progress when it's people are so ignorant...

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abdula

Apr 19, 2017 08:54pm

@Mark we are peaceful people watch the video u can understand

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Fawzia H

Apr 19, 2017 08:59pm

There was no reason for the passenger to have slapped the FIA employee. Bringing the issue to her attention was enough.

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Pakistani

Apr 19, 2017 09:49pm

I am curious if everything else is captured then why not the moment when reportedly passenger slapped the FIA lady. I sincerely don't believe that it happened. Whatever took place after that is shear shame and reflects the mental and emotional illness of FIA officials. Come what may, these ladies were not supposed to be treated like that. Today it's them, tomorrow it can be mothers and sisters of any one of us. And just to rub salt into the wounds, the poor helpless father was forced to submit apology. Stringent action should be taken with zero tolerance on recurrence. Just suspension of that lady FIA official is not enough.

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Apr 20, 2017 12:01am

The passenger was out of order. She should have been held back and justice rightly served. The officer had no right to lose her self control but remain calm. Personally I have used Karachi and Lahore airports for domestic and international flights and have found staff to be courteous and professional.

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Khattak

Apr 20, 2017 02:37am

@zebswati so you actually believe that the ladies slap an fia official, you must be very naive to believe a story that been put out by the same corrupt officials to protect backs... all those responsible should be sacked and jailed for behaving in a manner that they did with international passenger.

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Aamir Latif

Apr 20, 2017 11:36am

Islamabad international airport is a mess since many years and new airport should have been constructed long time back. It's a badly crowded place when 2,3, 4 international flights are taking off. Someone losing his cool is normal due to crowd cramped up in small area to go through their checkin process. One can point out many ills during this time. Still as civilized people, we should show tolerance whether it is passengers or airport officials.

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Asif

Apr 20, 2017 05:38pm

@A Gujjar Have you ever been abroad? Pakistani staff have the worst customer service of any of the countries I have visited. Pakistani staff are rude and corrupt.

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Humayun

Apr 20, 2017 08:44pm

@Pakistani I concur with you. I do not believe that the FIA woman was slapped at all. It was a cover-up story made afterwards to protect her actions. Even if she was allegedly slapped, it does not give her the right to beat up passengers until they faint. Where did she get that authority? And also, how all the other security personnel and FIA officials are standing around non-chalantly while she is furiously beating up and dragging women by their hair tells you that this was an FIA woman gone crazy and the rest of her "gang" was supporting her. Secondly, I am amazed at all the comments from people who are siding with this FIA woman for brutally beating up two women in plain sight of the whole airport.

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Asif

Apr 21, 2017 01:52am

I don't have any sympathy for Haseenas. These expats who would not even talk to a uniformed officer abroad without a smiling face. As soon as they come to the land that nourished them they start looking down on Pakistanis. All they show is how cheap their mentality is and unfortunately their family back ground. I agree that FIA offical should have been polite (if she was rude at all). Slapping a uniformed officer is a serious offence. Haseena should be put on ECL and tried next time she is in Pakistan. Let her rot in a Pakistani jail for a few months so she will have ample chances to slap the warderns. The FIA offical should be made to return to her duty honourably with written apology from Haseena and FIA officials who suspended her.

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