ASF silence is deafening"There are serious implications in this in terms of aviation security," commented one official when contacted. It is feared that international authorities may downgrade Pakistan's aviation security apparatus as a result of this incident, which occurred on August 10.
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The silence of the Airports Security Force over the incident where the son of Law Minister Wasi Zafar assaulted a fellow passenger at the Jinnah Terminal is intriguing and worrisome, say various quarters.
Several attempts by reporters to seek comments from the ASF high command have met with silence. At the same time, it is believed that the inquiry committee set up by the government to probe the unfortunate incident has not even had its first sitting despite the passage of over ten days.
"The ASF has to answer as to why its staff member allowed the son of federal law minister Wasi Zafar to pass through the security check without being subject to a search," commented one official on condition of anonymity.
There is talk amongst airline officials over this serious security breach by the ASF and its silence over what action it took against the errant staff member who allowed this to happen."There are serious implications in this in terms of aviation security," commented one official when contacted. It is feared that international authorities may downgrade Pakistan's aviation security apparatus as a result of this incident, which occurred on August 10.
Many quarters have pointed out the fact that this incident symbolizes a growing problem within the ASF to allow high civil and military officials to pass through security checks at airports around the country without following proper procedure.
Meanwhile, for all practical purposes, it seems that the inquiry committee set up to examine the facts of the case in which the son of the law minister assaulted an innocent passenger who objected to the manner in which the security procedure was being flouted has been brushed under the carpet.
Government officials privately said that the law minister has pressed the relevant officials to forget the incident since it was a "minor" affair.
Source: The News