LAHORE – PIA flight operation remained grounded across the country on sixth consecutive day today when more than 120 flights could not fly leaving thousands of passengers in lurch.

Airline employees were protesting against privatization of PIA and killing of three peaceful airline employees at the hands of police and rangers a few days back.

National carrier employees gathered at PIA complex and staged a protest against privatization of the airline. “Our colleagues are not allowed to enter the concourse hall area where they wanted to draw their salaries from different banks”, said Sajid Gujjar, President, Peoples Unity of PIA Employees.

He said that a meeting was going to be held between office bearers of Joint Action committee of PIA Employees (JACPIAE) and government dialogue committee members on Saturday to reach a consensus.

A member of Pakistan Airline Pilot Association (PALPA) seeking anonymity said, “We are waiting for the call of government dialogue committee members but there is complete silence so far”.

“We are ready to hold dialogue but operation will only be resumed after written assurance by the person not less than Prime Minister, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif”, he maintained.

An official of PIA management on condition of anonymity told The Nation that management was unable to establish special counters to facilitate the passengers despite the announcement.
Passengers, who were mostly intending to travel to Saudi Arabia and UAE, held a protest at Lahore airport after their flights were cancelled. The affected travellers included dozens of pilgrims heading for Saudi Arabia.