ISLAMABAD/KARACHI/LAHORE – The PIA workers’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) continued its strike on Wednesday after their dialogue with the government representatives failed to bring the desired results, as the SHC suspended the removal of service notices issued to the PALPA president and secretary general by PIA.
The protesting workers announced that they would remain off duty until the fulfillment of their demands, including the removal of PIA Managing Director Ijaz Haroon, cancellation of the route sale agreement with Turkish Airlines and the reinstatement of suspended pilots.
The government had been represented by Religious Affairs Minister Khurseed Shah and Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, while PALPA President Sohail Baloch, Karman Chaudhry and Shamim Akmal represented PIA workers. After the meeting, Baloch told reporters that while the government had agreed to reinstate the sacked employees and assured the JAC that no route would be given to Turkish Airlines, it had refused to sack Haroon.
“The PIA workers will continue protests until the removal of the PIA MD,” Baloch vowed. Shah said utmost efforts were being made to fulfill the demands of the PIA workers. Earlier, the PIA workers staged a protest from Benazir Bhutto International Airport to Rawal Road. Flight operations at the airport remained suspended. Large contingents of Rangers deployed at the airport barred PIA workers from entering the premises.
However, the workers protested outside the airport, blocking the road for hours. They also beat up Security General Manger Raja Zaheer and Station Manager Asad Hammed Baig when they passed through the crowd. The strike continued at the Karachi airport as well, with around 15 flights being cancelled or delayed on Wednesday. Of these around five were international. Also, the Airport Security Force baton-charged several protesters at the airport.
There was no relief for travelers at the Lahore airport, as PIA has so far cancelled around 34 international and domestic flights, while around seven flights had been rescheduled for Wednesday. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Turkish President Abdullah Gul late on Wednesday and discussed bilateral and regional issues. Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the issue of relations between the airlines of the two countries came under discussion.
