Dr Tahira Zaheer, Deputy Director Chemical/Quality Manager, Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman of an NGO Route Equity Ghotki were the two Pakistani delegates, who left for Kathmandu, Nepal to participate in 4th PTB-Saarc Workshop on Regional Co-operation Accreditation, hosted by Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) through a diverted flight from Kolkata, where they were made hostage by Indian agencies for 24 hours.
Intelligence sources told that a passenger bearing passport no. AY5128621, who later identified as Dr Tahira Zaheer, had tried to communicate Pakistani high-ups at Kolkata Airport at around 3:00pm on June 28, but she was not allowed to make contact by the Indian Airport Force. As the two delegates reached at Kolkata Airport by an Ethad Airline EY 292, crew of the plane had announced that passengers having Pakistani passport are not allowed to stay in the transit area.
All the passengers stayed at the hotel, but the two Pakistani delegates were not allowed to stay even at the airport and held by Indian authorities as prisoners. The Indian authorities did not even allow them to take water and meal in their territory.
Besides, they were not allowed to make contact with Pakistani high-ups. The plane took off again after passing 24 hours for Kathmandu. Due to diversion of flight, the delegates can attend only concluding session of a two-day workshop. Iqbal Tabish, Secretary Saarc, had informed the Foreign Office (FO) and decided to take the issue with the Indian government, Saarc and Ethad Airline simultaneously.