Law enforcers use water cannon, baton charge PIA employees in Karachi, two killed
Employees arrived at their work places after government's warning, says PIA spokesperson
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Two workers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have succumbed to wounds after law enforcers allegedly opened fire to deter protesters’ movement towards Jinnah terminal.
Sindh Police used water cannon to deter the protesting employees who were furthering towards Jinnah International Airport from the head office while Rangers resorted to baton charge.
The law enforcers have been alleged of opening fire that claimed two lives and injured several others.
A worker of PIA’s engineering wing, Inayat Raza died in a hospital after he was admitted in injured condition. However, Sindh Police East DIG has rejected the claims and said that the personnel did not open fire. There are reports that protesters possessed weapons, he added.
Watch video:
Pakistan Rangers spokesperson has also denied the allegation and said that paramilitary troops did not open fire at the protesters.
According to the in-charge of Jinnah Hospital s emergency ward, Dr Seemi Jamali, three of the six people brought there have gun wounds. She said that a body was brought to Agha Khan Hospital while three injured have been shifted to Liaquat National Hospital.
Cameraman of a private TV channel is among the injured. Police have detained Collective Bargaining Agent’s (CBA) President among five members of the Joint Action Committee.
Journalists have staged a protest outside Sindh Assembly against the torture. Crew of several domestic flights have launched a protest at Jinnah terminal, delaying departures.
Watch video:
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has announced countrywide protests on February 3 against colleagues torture.
An international and six domestic flights have been delayed owing to the protests and clashes today. Whereas spokesperson of the national airlines has said that around 120 flights are scheduled today and none has been cancelled or delay.
Reportedly, PIA’s booking office at Bacha Khan airport in Peshawar has been closed in the afternoon. Reportedly, army, police and Airport Security Force (ASF) have taken control of the airport.
Opposition criticises
Former president Asif Ali Zardari has called the government to accept demands put forth by the protesting employees. He has demanded judicial investigation of the clash that claimed an employee s life while left several injured.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has criticised torture of the protesters. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Syed Khursheed Shah has said that the party stands with the protesters and endorses their stance over privatization.
Read also: Bilawal Bhutto condemns use of brutal force against protesting PIA employees
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Naeemul Haq has said that the ruling party’s ’dictator-like’ ways have been exposed. He said that PTI stands with the tortured employees. Today’s incident is reminiscent of late dictator Muhammad Ziaul Haq’s tenure, he added.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Faisal Sabzwari has said that the party endorses protesters’ point of view.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has denounced torturing the employees who according to him are demanding their lawful right.
Presenting counter arguments, Pakistan Muslim League-e-Nawaz s (PML-N) Talal Chaudhry has said that different political parties are using the PIA incident for political gains.
Water cannons were called at the protest sites in Lahore and Karachi to disperse the employees if they attempt to halt flight operations. The employees had warned earlier of halting flight operations if their demands are not met.
Meanwhile, the government has appointed a German citizen as the Chief Operating Officer of Pakistan International Airlines on a salary package of Rs 50 lacs per month.
Flight operations reported normal by the PIA spokesperson
Earlier before the clash in Karachi, flight operations in different cities were reported normal despite Joint Action Committee’s (JAC) warning of halt.
Spokesperson of the national airlines said that all flights were departing for their destinations on time. He said that flight operations at all airports across the country were normal.
More than 24 Karachi-bound flights took off from the federal capital without any delay and landed on time.
Spokesperson for the PIA said that PK-300 from Karachi to Islamabad, PK-590 from Karachi to Sukkur, PK-302 from Karachi to Lahore were on schedule.
PK-365 from Islamabad to Karachi, PK-333 from Multan to Karachi, PK-786 from London to Islamabad, PK-283 from Peshawar to Dubai, PK-650 from Lahore to Islamabad, PK-247 from Sialkot to Saudi Arabia’s Dammam were also among the flights that have been on time.
The spokesperson further said that PK-584 from Karachi to Dera Ghazi Khan, PK-302 from Karachi to Lahore, PK-217 from Peshawar to Abu Dhabi, PK-733 from Lahore to Paris and PK-203 from Lahore to Dubai departed on time. PIA’s PK-712 left for New York on time without any unnecessary delay.
He further said that employees returned to their work places after government’s warning.
After Information Minister Pervez Rasheed’s warning on Monday night, authorities deployed contingents of Sindh Police and Pakistan Rangers outside Jinnah International Airport.
.jpg)
Frame on the right: An injured, abandoned on the road
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees gathered outside the head office in the early hours to continue protest against privatization on the eight consecutive day. However, the authorities geared up to counter any disruption in the normal routine at the airports.
Know more: PIA employees stand ground, flight operations to halt from February 2
Water cannon near PIA head office in Karachi
A heavy contingent of police has been deployed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airporft as well.
Government warns
On Monday night, federal Information Minister Pervez Rasheed had warned the PIA employees of losing their jobs if they do not stop demonstrations against government’s decision to privatize the national airlines.
He had also promised a ‘reward’ for those who follow government’s instructions and end the series of protests which have been ongoing for more than week in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other cities.
Rasheed said that those who irk the locals through cancellation of flights would be reprimanded. He said that the employees who would continue protest on Tuesday would be terminated from service with no chances of reappointment.
He said that when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in power, the national airlines only had a fleet of 18 aircrafts while now the number is 40.
Read also: PIA employees reject six-month postponement, protest on seventh day in different cities
After the government delayed privatization of Pakistan International Airlines by six months, the citizens are bound to bear Rs 21 billion loss. The postponement alone will result in losses worth billions of Rupees for the deficit bearing company.
According to the documents, the number of employed PIA personnel stands at 14,847 which are working for 38 airplanes. 390 employees perform their duties per plane of PIA.
Sources said that the Finance Ministry among other government representatives could not convince the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the delay in privatization. The government had provided a roadmap of privatization which is supposed to be done in 2016 to the IMF.
According to the blueprint, PIA, State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLIC) and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) will be privatized in the current year.
Watch video:
