Shoes Contain Batteries, Circuits, On/Off Switch

A Pakistani man wearing shoes designed to massage one's feet was detained at Karachi airport because the shoes contained batteries and circuit boards, but the person wearing them said they were simply intended to keep him comfortable on his flight.

That didn't stop the arrest of Faiz Mohammed on Sunday, as he attempted to board a Thai Airways flight to Muscat, where he said he had business. He told investigators that he had bought the shoes at a market in Karachi, and that he had worn them to massage his feet during the hour-long flight to Muscat.

CBS reports that the shoes are described in the media as "Good Vibrations Theraputic Vibrating Shoes", and that they come with a battery charger to top off the batteries contained in the soles of the shoes. There is also a plug on the heel for the charger, as well as an "on/off" switch on the side of the shoe.

Pakistani officials went to the store where Mohammed said he had purchased the shoes in an effort to verify his story. They eventually began to treat the case as harmless.

"These days, everyone is nervous. This arrest immediately prompted a scare. No explosives were found, but the story about the massage shoes looks plausible," said one official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The international news service AFP reports that Mohammed, a 30-year-old civil engineer, was released from custody Tuesday.

FMI: www.karachiairport.com.pk