Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz Alghadeer yesterday strongly condemned the attack on a Saudi military officer by nine Airport Security Force (ASF) members at Benazir Bhutto International Airport and described it as a criminal attack.
Speaking to Arab News by telephone, Alghadeer said Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and a number of ministers had contacted him to express their condemnation of the attack on Col. Shukri Al-Shahri, who was seriously injured as a result of the beating.
The ambassador denied Pakistani media reports that ASF members reacted when the Saudi man abused one of them. “Even if what they are saying is true, they should have followed the law and taken other measures instead of badly beating him,” Alghadeer said.
“I would not accept an attack on any Saudi in Pakistani territory. We have asked Pakistani authorities to try the attackers and provide us with the result of the court verdict,” he said.
The ambassador said he visited the airport soon after receiving a call from the officer. “Blood was flowing from his face as a result of injuries caused by the attack,” he said, adding that the ASF personnel had also attacked the Saudi officer’s son.
“I contacted Pakistani security authorities from the airport and informed them about the incident,” he said. The embassy recorded the names of ASF members who attacked the officer. “We took the officer to a government hospital to get a medical report before taking him to a private hospital for treatment.” Alghadeer said the officer’s condition has improved.
