Pakistani minister 'sets fire to possessions' at airport in rage over cancelled flight

Politician summoned to supreme court over alleged 'misbehaviour'

The Supreme Court of Pakistan said: 'The minister pushed the 'Arrival Incharge' so hard that he stumbled' (Shehzad Ahmed/Snapshot)

A local tourism minister in Pakistan has allegedly set fire to his possessions in an Islamabad airport in protest at his flight being cancelled.

Fida Husain, a minister in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, was summoned to Pakistan’s supreme court over the alleged “misbehaviour”.

It comes after a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Islamabad to Gilgit scheduled for 7am was first delayed, then cancelled due to bad weather.

A press release from the Supreme Court of Pakistan said: “As per media reports, the incident took place over a flight delay due to bad weather and the minister pushed the (official) so hard that he stumbled.”

Footage circulated online of a row between a passenger – purportedly Mr Husain – and an airport official

According to an English translation by Pakistani broadsheet Dawn, the passenger says: “The weather is bad you say. The weather is bad for one flight and not the other?”

Later in the argument, the airport official starts to walk away and the passenger shoves him, causing him to temporarily lose his footing.

In a separate video the same passenger is showed setting fire to his possessions, including what he says is an “expensive jacket”.

When an airport security official approaches, the passenger holds his arms in front of him and says: “Go bring handcuffs.”

Mr Husain is due to appear before the Supreme Court on 3 December, Pakistani broadcaster Geo TV reported.