Ex-Pakistani bureaucrat's daughter assaults flight attendant, sparks controversy

The daughter of a former high-ranking Pakistani official physically assaulted a flight attendant, causing injuries and bleeding, after refusing to comply with safety instructions on a domestic flight, airline officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Saima Jogezai, daughter of former Quetta Commissioner Iftikhar Jogezai, punched a female flight attendant in the face when asked to disembark from a Serene Air flight between Quetta and Islamabad. The incident occurred after she refused to fasten her seatbelt and close her tray table despite repeated requests from the cabin crew.

The confrontation began during check-in when both Saima and her father started misbehaving with the airline's staff, according to witnesses. Their disruptive behavior continued even after boarding the flight.

When instructed to follow standard safety protocols including fastening seatbelts, Saima refused to comply and allegedly responded rudely to the flight crew. After being informed of the situation, the captain contacted the control tower and returned to the runway.

Airport Security Force (ASF) officers were called to the scene. When the captain requested that both father and daughter exit the aircraft, Saima refused and subsequently struck the flight attendant in the face, causing the attendant's nose to bleed.

ASF took both Saima Jogezai and her father into custody following the incident. According to the airline's administration, the Balochistan provincial government began exerting pressure on behalf of the Jogezais shortly after the incident.

Serene Air in a statement said it followed international aviation procedures for handling unruly passengers onboard. The individuals involved—a father and daughter—were handed over to the Airport Security Force (ASF) at Quetta Airport, which managed their subsequent processing as per its protocol.

“At the time of the incident, the airline was unaware that the individual involved was a retired commissioner," it added.

“Following a written apology from the retired commissioner, both individuals were allowed to leave Quetta Airport at approximately 11:00 p.m. last night.

“According to medical assessments, the cabin crew did not sustain serious injuries. However, she was struck with a punch to the face, specifically in the nose area.”

The current Quetta Commissioner personally arrived at the airport to assess the situation and speak with ASF officials, requesting that the matter be resolved, airline representatives said. The airline administration reported that the commissioner facilitated a written apology from the father and daughter, following which they were permitted to leave.