Pakistani social media influencer defends husband who threatened to rape air hostess
The spouse of Salman Iftikhar, the chief just lately sentenced for threatening a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant, has come ahead to defend her husband, attributing his actions to psychological well being struggles.
Abeer Rizvi, a social media influencer primarily based in Pakistan, shared her ideas on Instagram days after Iftikhar was sentenced to fifteen months in jail for his behaviour throughout a flight in 2023.
“Psychological well being shouldn’t be a joke. Behind each story, there’s ache you don’t see,” Rizvi wrote on Instagram. “Earlier than judging, strive understanding. Be type. Be human,” she added.
Iftikhar, the founding father of recruitment agency Staffing Match, was travelling from London to Lahore along with his spouse and their three kids when he grew to become intoxicated and disruptive on February 7, 2023, reported The New York Put up.
Through the flight’s first meal service, Iftikhar allegedly drank champagne in entrance of his kids and behaved in a disorderly method, together with reaching over-the-counter to take ice along with his arms, which led cabin crew to ask him to return to his seat, the report added.
When requested to conform, Iftikhar launched right into a tirade in opposition to flight attendants, making racist and threatening remarks, and later recognized the resort the place the lead flight attendant, Angie Walsh, was staying, issuing additional threats.
Based on the Mirror, he stated she “shall be lifeless,” and added, “The ground of your resort shall be blown up and it’ll disappear. You’ll be dragged by your hair out of your room and gang-raped and set on fireplace.”
The report stated that the officers managed to calm Iftikhar, and he was allowed to go away the flight in Pakistan with out police involvement.
Iftikhar was arrested at his house in England in March 2024. Following his arrest, his firm, Staffing Match reportedly went bankrupt, owing $22.8 million.
Throughout his court docket listening to, Iftikhar admitted to creating threats and racially harassing Walsh however denied harassment prices associated to a bodily altercation with a male flight attendant.
Walsh testified that the incident left her traumatised and compelled her to take 14 months off work.
“I’m a robust, courageous, completely satisfied stewardess, and liked my job,” she stated in a sufferer impression assertion. “I’ve flown with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years and confronted many challenges, however this incident broke me,” she added.
Virgin Atlantic praised Walsh for her braveness in talking out. The New York Put up quoted a spokesperson saying, “The protection and safety of our clients and crew is all the time our prime precedence, and we take a zero-tolerance method to disruptive or abusive behaviour on board. We help Angie absolutely and commend her bravery.”
Salman Iftikhar’s spouse, Abeer Rizvi, has not publicly commented on his jail sentence.
