In a major embarrassment for Pakistan, the country’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was frisked as part of a routine security check at a US airport, reports said on Wednesday.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Abbasi, dressed in a maroon polo t-shirt and black trousers can be seen putting on his belt after clearing the security check. Moments later, he picks up his coat and bag and walks away.
As per reports, the incident took place last week at the JFK airport in New York. Abbasi was on a personal visit to meet his ailing sister.
A furious Pakistani media slammed Abbasi for not lodging any protest with the US authorities against the treatment meted out to him and letting the people of country down.
Abbasi’s frisking comes in the backdrop of reports suggesting that the Trump administration is considering imposing visa bans and other sanctions on individuals in the Pakistani government.
The US had on March 22 put sanctions on seven Pakistani companies, placing them on its “Entity List”, making it harder for them to operate in the country over alleged links to the nuclear trade.
Ties between the United States and Pakistan have frayed in recent years over Pakistan’s suspected support for Islamist militants waging war in Afghanistan.