Pakistani PM Shahid Abbasi had to go same security screening like commoners as he was on a private visit: US clarifies

NewsBharati    30-Mar-2018
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Washington, March 30: Days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was frisked at an airport in the US, Washington on Thursday clarified the incident saying that he was on a private visit to the country and basic security measures were followed. Notably, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was treated like any other regular person at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York as he was frisked during the security procedure.

 

The deputy spokesperson of the US Embassy Alexander McLaren while interacting to media said , My understanding is that if the head of state chooses to travel privately without diplomatic passport, then they are travelling as a private citizen, then he would have to go through the same security screening that you and I will have to go." "Obviously, an official visit is a different story," he added.

A video of Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has gone viral on Youtube in which he is getting frisked during the security procedure at John F. Kennedy airport in New York. He was seen putting on his belt after clearing security, picking up his coat and bag and walking away moments later.

Soon after the video gone viral, Pakistani media has exploded criticizing Trump administration while giving breaking news about how current Pakistani Prime Minister searched and checked by American security at John F. Kennedy Airport.

Pakistani media was saying even though he holds the top post of a country which is the PM and he has a diplomatic passport which allows him to bypass security around the world, he was still searched by the American Security Agents. However, according to the Pakistani media reports, Abbasi travelled to the US to visit his ailing sister.