KARACHI, Aug 13: An air hostess of the Pakistan International Airline was arrested on Monday at the domestic departure lounge by the Airport Security Force when a pistol loaded with four live bullets was found in her handbag.

ASF officials said 23-year-old Irum Ara arrived at the airport in the morning to board a Gwadar-Quetta-Turbat flight of the national carrier. They said she was arrested and later handed over to the Airport police for further action.

A PIA press release said the air hostess, detailed for official duty on PIA flight PK-523, was detained after ASF staff detected a revolver in her handbag.

“The air hostess admitted the presence of a revolver in her handbag and stated that it was mistakenly placed in her personal baggage a day before since her family was shifting all luggage in the process of change of residence in Karachi,” it said.

Investigation officer Inspector Gulfraz Abbasi, however, told Dawn that Irum Ara in her initial statement claimed that she did not know how and when the weapon came into her bag.

He said the air hostess had been booked (FIR No. 34/07) for carrying an unlicensed weapon. “She has so far failed to produce a licence,” he added.