Summary All PIA flights have been suspended indefinitely
Dunya News Report (Jibran Dost)
KARACHI: All domestic and international flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are cancelled for Wednesday, as the strike enters its second day. PIA representatives at Jinnah International Airport Karachi, Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad, Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore and Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar confirmed the cancellation of all domestic and international flights scheduled for today.
“All PIA flights have been suspended indefinitely,” said a PIA inquiry representative at Lahore airport.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed great concern over the killing of two PIA employees and injuries during the protest against privatization in Karachi on Tuesday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the commission said “HRCP condemns the killing of PIA workers and injuries to several others in a firing incident. Television footage from earlier in the day showed law enforcement personnel using batons, water cannons and tear gas against protesters when they moved towards the airport.”
“Every citizen is entitled to the freedom of peaceful protest. The PIA employees have repeatedly voiced their misgivings over the proposed privatization. It is a matter of great concern that shots were fired at the protestors on Tuesday. Whether this was proportionate use of force is a separate discussion, and this point needs judicial examination. Both official law enforcement agencies with personnel at the scene are now saying that they did not use firearms. The Rangers have stated that they had not fired any bullets. A senior police officer has also said that police were not allowed to open fire or beat up the workers,” the statement said.
On the other hand, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chairman Nasir Jafar while talking to Kamran Khan on his programme ‘Dunya Kamran Khan Key Sath,’ declared his resignation after the firing incident that took place in Karachi protest on Tuesday.
During the programme, Jafar expressed that he did not deserve to stay the chairman of PIA anymore. He also added that he had asked the Joint Action Committee to avoid of the spilling of precious blood.
Furthermore, he stated that he will be in complete support of the organisation even after the resignation and asked Captain Sohail Baloch to negotiate with the government and resolve the matter through negotiations. He also arranged a meeting for Cpt Baloch with Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
At the same time, a new footage of the firing incident that took place during the protest has been released. The footage clearly shows that the firing was opened from inside the crowd. The footage also shows that security personnel were not present at the firing spot.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while talking to the media in Lahore on Tuesday clearly stated that those employees who will be involved in the strike could be discharged of duty.
He also argued that various political parties are using the PIA incident to gain political advantage and those who are involved in the strike will face the consequences.
Meanwhile, private airlines have started taking advantage of the PIA incident with a notable increase in the fares.
The fare of Lahore to Karachi flight has increased from Rs. 8 thousand to Rs. 13 thousand while the fare of Karachi to Islamabad flight has increased from Rs. 8 thousand to Rs. 14,500.
