KARACHI/ISLAMABAD/LAHORE – The standoff between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) worsened on Tuesday, as other airline associations joined PALPA to launch simultaneous protest in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to press for the reinstatement of sacked pilots and the removal of PIA’s managing director and his team.
Those who joined PALPA’s protests included the Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SEAP), PIA Cabin Crew Association, the Officers Alliance, Alliance of Friends, Aircraft Technologists Association of Pakistan, Collective Bargaining Agent (Kamran Chaudhry), the Air and United Leagues, as well as five labour alliances and four labour unions.
In Karachi, PIA employees stopped working, resulting in the cancellation of several flights, among which two were bound for Istanbul via Abu Dhabi, and Birmingham. Six domestic flights scheduled for Lahore and Islamabad also got cancelled. Several other flights, both domestic and international, were delayed.
Joining the protest from Manchester was the captain and crew of PIA flight PK-721. The flight left Karachi for New York via Manchester, however, the plane’s four pilots, including the captain, and cabin crew, refused to take the flight to New York in protest against the PIA management, stranding travellers at the Manchester Airport. At Jinnah International Airport’s, protesters gathered on the runway, forcing the PIA management to call in the Rangers to clear the strip for air traffic.
The protesting employees demanded an immediate removal of PIA Managing Director (MD) Aijaz Haroon and his team, the reinstatement of suspended pilots and cancellation of a proposed agreement with Turkish Airlines. Clashes also broke out between the protesters and those trying to tend to their duties, as the enraged demonstrators exchanged blows with on-duty officials to stop them from working.
In Islamabad, Rangers took control of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. At least 23 flights were scheduled to fly from Islamabad airport on Tuesday. However, the protesters allowed flights to land at the airport. In Lahore, five flights were cancelled – two international and three domestic.
PIA spokesman Mashhud Tajwar said flight operations would be normalised soon, as not all pilots had gone on strike and the airline had standby arrangements. SEAP President Shaukat Jamshed said no talks with PIA management could be initiated until the reinstatement of suspended pilots.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took serious notice of the protests and directed Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and Labour Minister Khursheed Shah to look into the matter immediately. Also, PIA MD Ejaz Haroon denied signing an agreement or a MoU with Turkish Airlines.
