News Detail
Event Title: Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, Chairman Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-09-11
Senate Privileges Committee Directs PIA and ASF to Take Disciplinary Action Against Misconduct by Staff
The meeting of the Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges was held today at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi. Senators Saadia Abbasi, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, Faisal Saleem Rahman, Jan Muhammad and Dost Ali Jessar attended the meeting, while Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail, as Mover of the privilege motion, participated through Zoom.
Privilege motion moved by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan on 24th December, 2025 in the house regarding misconduct of Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, the Federal Minister for Communications during the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications held on 19-12-2025, as per recommendation of this Committee on 07.04.2026. was deferred.
The Committee considered the Privilege Motion moved by Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail regarding alleged misconduct by Ms. Saima Rana, Cabin Crew Staff of PIA, during Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight No. PK-326 from Quetta to Islamabad on 7th February 2026.
The matter was discussed in the previous meeting, wherein it was recommended that the concerned official will contact the Senator Bilal Khan Mandokhail and tender an apology, the matter could be resolved, however, Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail informed the Committee that he could not be contacted by any one from PIA, hence, he sought disciplinary action, including dismissal from service. The Committee expressed concern over the conduct of PIA staff. The Chairman Committee informed that an issue has been raised on social media regarding the smuggling of cigarettes from Multan Airport. Committee was of the view that such kind of attitude and acts of PIA officials humiliate the reputation of PIA.
The Committee recommended that PIA conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the official according to relevant rules and law. The Committee disposed of the Privilege Motion
The Committee subsequently considered the Privilege Motion moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri regarding alleged misconduct by ASF officials deployed during check-in for Emirates Flight EK-601 on 24th July 2026.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri stated that while travelling to London, an ASF official checked her hand-carry bag and questioned her regarding the cash being carried. She offered to count the foreign currency cash as required at the side office but the ASF officer opened the bag at the desk where already three bags were opened for checking and ASF was mixing he hand carry bag with those bags. She asked them to take my bag at the side room but duty officer with his wrong behavior and attitude not listing to her. She questioned that if such an attitude was shown towards a parliamentarian, the treatment of ordinary persons of the public could also be a matter of concern.
The senior ASF officer expressed regret and tendered an apology for the incident, assuring the Committee that the matter would be taken up with the concerned authorities and Pakistan Customs. The Committee recommended that ASF personnel be provided appropriate training on dealing with the general public.
Chairman Committee Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi endorsed the observation of the Senator and directed that lower-level ASF staff be properly trained in public dealing. The Committee further recommended that an inquiry into the incident be conducted with in fifteen days, and the officer found responsible be produced before the Committee in its next meeting.
Privilege Motion moved by Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, against Mr. Abdul Sattar Hakro, Deputy Commissioner, District Keamari, Karachi for failing to meet the Senator at the specific time confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner, failing to inform him of any change in the scheduled meeting time and neither responding to his telephone call nor making any effort to contact him was deferred due to his illness.
Privilege Motion moved by Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat against the Executive Director, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Islamabad for willful non-compliance with the directions of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and non-provision of requisite information was deferred due to his travel to abroad.