RAWALPINDI, Jun 8: An investigation report about the manhandling of a Saudi military official by Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on May 31 has been sent to the prime minister and the ministry of defence, a source said on Friday.

However, the ASF’s departmental inquiry into the incident is still underway. “Yes, the departmental inquiry is in progress to fix responsibility on security personnel who should not have thrashed and injured the Saudi military officer,” a security official said requesting not to be named.

The source said the investigation report contained the CCTV footage, statements of the ASF personnel who had been on duty at the time of the incident and passengers record of the Saudi Arabian Airline flight (SV-723) for Riyadh that day.

The report was prepared by a three-member team, comprising director general ASF, the airport manager and a senior official of the ministry of defence, on the instruction of the federal government.

The source said the report suggested that Group Captain Shukri Al-Shehri of Saudi Air Force and his younger son were not travelling on the Saudi Arabian Airline flight (SV-723) though they were carrying air tickets which they used just to get into the passenger lounge to see off Mr Shehri’s elder son, who was going to Riyadh.

The source said the Saudi official, who was attending a course at the National Defence University Islamabad, had not informed the authorities there that he was going out of the country.

It also suggested that the unpleasant incident happened when the Saudi official’s younger son was stopped by the ASF personnel while violating the walk-though gate. On seeing his son being stopped, he got angry and started arguing with the security personnel.

The report said the situation deteriorated when the Saudi official was stopped from taking snaps and making films of the airport restricted area and security staff with his cellphone.

The source said taking snaps and making film of the restricted area was also visible from the CCTV footage. And when he was stopped by the sector commander of the ASF, he pushed him aside that created panic among the security staff who later thrashed him.

The source said none of the ASF personnel allegedly involved in the incident was removed from duty.

On part of the police, a letter had been written to the ministry of defence seeking CCTV footage and inclusion of the airport security personnel in the investigation. However, the police have not yet received a reply from the authorities concerned.