KARACHI – Over a week-long row between PIA and the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) deepened on Monday when the Ministry of Defence suspended six pilots, including PALPA President Sohail Baloch.
Following the orders, several PIA crew members went on leave to show their resentment against the suspensions and the proposed agreement between PIA and Turkish Airlines. The protesting pilots had threatened to go on strike from today (Tuesday). Those who went on leave included 27 pilots and about 40 crew members, including air hostesses.
Later, the PALPA Joint Action Committee said in a press conference in Islamabad that the protests would continue until the sacking of the PIA managing director and the cancellation of the proposed agreement with Turkish Airlines. The JAC said PIA MD’s claim that the pilots were bound to work by the Essential Services Ordinance was baseless, as the ordinance was only applicable to a wartime situation.
Sources said PIA had around 500 pilots and the strike could affect some of the airline’s domestic and international operations for a few days. However, they said more pilots could go on leave or strike if the PALPA president was not reinstated, adding that the disruption in operations could then get out of PIA’s hands.
