At least three persons were shot dead and 12 others injured during clashes between security forces and staff of Pakistan International Airlines protesting at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport (KHI) against the planned privatisation of the ailing national flag carrier.
The clashes led to the disruption and then suspension of many domestic and international flights around the Pakistan’s main airports.
Sadiq Rehman, vice president of Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA), said:
“The environment is such that we cannot continue with flights. The decision is indefinite for as long as this issue continues.”
Pakistan International Airlines chairman Nasser Jaffer expressed grief over the deaths of the PIA employees and lamented at the events which lead to their deaths.
“My conscience doesn’t allow me to head the organisation anymore,” Nasser Jaffer said.
“I have resigned from the post,” the PIA chairman told TV channels while in tears.
PIA chairman said that he has sent his resignation to the prime minister.
Pakistan Airlines Cabin Crew Association (PACCA) president Nasrullah Khan said that the strike would go ahead as the government has not accepted their four-point agenda.
All domestic and international flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were cancelled on Wednesday as the employees’ strike to protest the carrier’s privatisation entered its second day.
Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) spokesman Pervez George said the authority has requested private carrier Airblue to schedule additional flights between major cities to accommodate passengers after cancellation of PIA flights.
The National Assembly on January 21 witnessed the passage of six bills, including one to convert the national flag carrier into a public limited company.
Under the bill, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) will be converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL).
The Pakistani government plans to split the ailing national flag carrier PIA into two companies and sell the control of its core business to a global airline, but the opposition to the sell-off has been intense.
PIA, one of the world’s leading airlines until the 1970s, now suffers from frequent cancellations and delays and has been involved in numerous controversies over the years, including the jailing of a drunk pilot in Britain in 2013.
“Saving PIA means saving the country,” said Ali Hussain, one of the striking employees. “Tomorrow they will sell Pakistan.”
As the flights schedule has been disrupted across the country, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has requested private airlines to arrange special flights.
According to the CAA spokesperson, AirBlue, a private Pakistani airline, will arrange special flights in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
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