Pakistan

Two killed, several injured as security forces open fire on protesting PIA workers

Security forces and PIA workers clash as protesters march towards Karachi airport from airline's head office

Agencies/faraz Khan/sameer Mandhro/Zahid Ali/saad Hasan February 02, 2016

Police deploy water cannon to disperse workers of the Pakistan International Airlines during a protest rally against the planned privatisation of the national carrier at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on February 02, 2015. PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI: Security personnel on Tuesday clashed with marchers protesting against government plans to privatise the ailing national airline, in a skirmish that a hospital official said killed at least two protesters and injured eight.

Protesters said paramilitary forces fired after a confrontation as security forces tried to block the strikers nearing the airport in the southern economic hub of Karachi.

But a spokesperson for the paramilitary Rangers force and a senior police officer denied that any of their members had fired.

PIA staff to strike on Tuesday

The violence came as hundreds of airline employees held the latest of a months-long series of protests against the plans to privatise Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Rangers personnel baton charge on employees of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) during a protest near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on February 2, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Police used water cannons and teargas to keep the crowd from approaching the city's Jinnah International Airport before shots were fired.

"They didn't tell us they would be using force," Suhail Baluch, chairman of PIA's Joint Action Committee, a grouping of unions, said of the firings. "Firing straight at unarmed people is unacceptable."

One man with a gunshot wound died during treatment while the body of another had been brought for autopsy, Kaleem Shaikh, an officer of the city's Jinnah Hospital, told Reuters, adding that the men were PIA employees at the protest. Eight other injured protesters had also been admitted for treatment, he said.

Senior police officer Kamran Fazal told reporters at the scene that police did not open fire. Police had gathered bullet casings from the scene to determine the weapons used, he said.

Despite the strike in Karachi and at PIA offices across country, flights suffered no major disruption on Tuesday.

An employee of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a local news cameraman lie in an ambulance after they were wounded by gunfires during a protest in Karachi on February 2, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Once a source of pride for Pakistan, flights of the loss-making carrier are now frequently cancelled and many of its aircraft have been cannibalised to keep others flying.

PIA, one of the world's leading airlines until the 1970s, now suffers from frequent cancellations and delays and has been involved in numerous controversies over the years, including the jailing of a drunk pilot in Britain in 2013.

The PIA employees' union had announced a day earlier its plans to shut down the airline's flights after weeks of token strikes against government proposals to complete the partial sale of the carrier by July. The move follows years of crushing losses and mismanagement that have battered the airline's reputation.

The government has sought to allay fears the move could bring mass layoffs, but sporadic protests have continued.

"Saving PIA means saving the country," said Ali Hussain, one of the striking employees. "Tomorrow they will sell Pakistan."

Govt bans union activity to prevent PIA strike

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday enacted legislation that effectively restricts the airline's employees from striking for six months, the government said in a statement. Those convicted of infringements face prison terms of up to a year, and an unspecified fine.

"Let me make clear that those who continue the strike will be treated as enemies of PIA and Pakistan and they will end up losing their jobs," Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said on Monday.

CAA requests Air Blue to commence special flights

As the flights schedule has been disrupted across the country, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has requested private airlines to arrange special flights.

According to the CAA spokesperson, private airline Air Blue will arrange special flights in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

PIA chairman resigns

PIA chairman Nasir Jaffer has submitted his resignation to the prime minister.

“Cannot remain to be the chairman [of PIA] after today’s incident,” Express News quoted him as saying.

Offices to remain closed until arrest of culprits

Meanwhile, the PIA Joint Action Committee has decided to keep flight operations halted and offices closed until the arrest of culprits behind the killing of two employees.

According to Express News, committee leader Sohail Baloch demanded Rangers to conduct an impartial inquiry of the incident, saying it was necessary to restore confidence of masses in the law enforcement agency.

Meanwhile, Palpa also announced to join forces with the committee, saying pilots will also take part in the strike.

PM threatens PIA workers with dismissal from job, imprisonment

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has threatened PIA workers that they will lose their jobs and may face up to one year in prison if they fail to show up to work with immediate effect, our correspondent Abdul Manan reports.

Employees performing their duties and are not part of the protests will be rewarded by the government, the prime minister added.

Sindh govt announces Rs2m for relatives of deceased PIA workers

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday announced a compensation of Rs2 million for the families of each of the deceased PIA workers, Express News reports.

PALPA joins strike call of PIA unions

The Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (Palpa) has formally announced joining the strike call of the airline unions, our correspondent Saad Hasan reports.

All the pilots of the association have been instructed not to proceed to airport after death of employees in a recent protest, Palpa said on Tuesday.

Rangers did not open fire at PIA workers: spokesperson

Rangers did not open fire at protesting PIA workers at Jinnah International Airport, a spokesperson of the paramilitary forces claimed on Tuesday.

The Rangers’ spokesperson refuted the media reports which suggested the firing was carried out by the paramilitary forces after the airlines’ workers clashed with them.

Earlier, DIG East Police had also denied reports of firing by policemen.

JAC leaders, several protesters arrested: sources

Several protesting PIA workers, along with a number of leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), a grouping of unions, were rounded up on Tuesday after protesting employees of the national carrier clashed with the security forces at the Karachi airport, Express News reports quoting sources.

Two dead, several injured in clashes at Karachi airport

Two PIA employees were shot dead on Tuesday and several more were wounded after clashes broke out between law enforcement agencies and workers, hospital officials say.

A spokesperson at the Agha Khan hospital said one of the protesters, identified as Inayat Raza, had died of a gunshot wound. "The PIA employee was brought dead at our emergency department and our team attempted to revive him for 20 minutes," the spokesperson says.

Nadeem Jaffer, a colleague and friend of Raza, has confirmed his death at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Dr Seemi Jamali, a spokesperson for the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, tells AFP the hospital had received a total of 10 wounded, one of whom later died.

"Four people with gunshot wounds were brought to the hospital, one succumbed to his injuries while the other three are in stable condition," she says.

Six others, among them journalists who had been covering the protest, were treated for other injuries.

"They didn't tell us they would be using force," Suhail Baluch, chairman of the JAC said of the firings. "Firing straight at unarmed people is unacceptable."

The government has sought to allay fears the move could bring mass layoffs, but sporadic protests have continued. "Saving PIA means saving the country," said Ali Hussain, one of the striking employees. "Tomorrow they will sell Pakistan."

Police to probe firing at PIA workers: DIG East

The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East Police has told media that investigations will be carried out in the firing incident at the Karachi airport which injured at several PIA workers.

Kamran Fazal, the police chief of the city's eastern district said: "The situation escalated when a couple of gunshots were fired. My officers told me that they might be fired from the crowd. "We are searching for the empty shells and only then can we establish who opened fire."

The police officer, however, refused to disclose the total number of employees and the JAC leaders who have been rounded up by the security forces.

Political parties condemn use of force against PIA workers

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s MNA and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah, and MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan have condemned the use of force against protesting PIA workers in Karachi, Express News reports.

“Everyone has a right to express their opinion. We stand in support to the media personnel who were injured during the coverage of the protest at the Karachi airport. This is a clear violation of the Constitution and the law of the land,” MQM leader Muhammad Hussain said while addressing a group of journalists outside Sindh Assembly building.

Meanwhile, PPP Senator Saeed Ghani has demanded registration of an FIR against Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Information Minister Pervez Rashid for firing at protesters.

Rangers beat up media men covering protest

Rangers personnel beat up several media persons covering the protest of the PIA workers against the privatisation of the national carrier.

Saad Hasan, business reporter of The Express Tribune, was inured during the clash.

Meanwhile, several other media men, including two Express News employees, were also, our correspondent Faraz Khan reports.

Express News cameraman Agha Rafiq, technician Saadat, ARY News cameramen Hanif and Danish, Dawn News cameraman Shafiq Dilshad, Waqt News cameramen Amjad Iqbal and Javeed KK also received wounds while performing their journalistic duties at the Karachi airport.

Three critically injured

At least three PIA workers have been critically injured as security forces resort to firing to disperse the protesting workers in Karachi.

Security forces fired at the airline workers as they marched towards the Karachi airport from PIA's head office in an attempt to block the Jinnah International Airport.

PIA flights operating as per schedule

The PIA flights are operating from all airports of the country as per schedule.

A small number of customers are seen at the Pakistan International Airlines head office in Karachi on February 02, 2016. PHOTO: ONLINE

PIA flights PK-4232 from Islamabad to Abu Dhabi, PK-584 from Islamabad to Dera Ghazi Khan and PK-300 from Karachi to Islamabad and PK-755 from Islamabad to Riyadh have left for their destinations, Radio Pakistan quoted a PIA spokesperson as saying.

Protesting employees continue to march towards terminal

Despite heavy shelling, the protesting workers continued to march towards the terminal and some even managed to enter the cargo office.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Police use tear gas, water cannon to disperse protesters

Police have resorted to tear gas shelling and the use of water cannon to disperse the protesting PIA workers.

Heavy contingent of security forces deputed at Karachi airport

Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of security forces has been deputed at the Jinnah International Airport terminal to deter the employees from entering the airport's premises.

COMMENTS (53)

IBN E ASHFAQUE | 8 years ago | Reply @Confused: The rangers cannot be blamed. They are not Police.......The people who are using rangers for policing have gone mad......Rangers should be sent to the borders and Police needs to be revamped but this will not happen.........in Pakistan......

Yul47 London | 8 years ago | Reply It is tragic but signs indicate of Gullu Butt style killing to create mayhem amongst protesting crowds. The Government had stated its case in no unmistaken terms, it was ill prepared to allow protestors to dictate sale of State Airline to some unknown buyer, it lacks transparency, even Law makers being unwise as to the terms of sale. In such uncertainty with transparency lacking, protesting employees require assurance of continuous employment. It is a hard fact, in mergers or acquisition redundancies usually follow, but employees are taken into confidence as numbers new employers may let go and lump sum payment that will be paid to each employee who looses his job, usually a multiplier of annual salary as a bench mark. In such sales a fund is withheld for the purpose of any redundancies occurring within a couple of years of merger or acquisition.

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Frank | 8 years ago | Reply These protesters don't have a leg to stand on - PIA must be made more efficient - but they do have the right to peaceful protest. There is something very wrong with a country that shoots peaceful protesters.

brar | 8 years ago | Reply I am astonished to read the comments of the readers but only the wearer knows where the she pinches they are commenting because their jobs are not at stake had any one of them the employee of PIA he would have resorted to the same, every one knows PIA is suffering losses and it is the duty of the Govt to initiate steps to take this air line out of this mess, lay off the extra staff and revive the air line it is the pride of Pakistan, Air India is also in loss but no one is talking about selling it.

Karachiwala | 8 years ago | Reply This is a conspiracy against the innocent, honest and hard working employees of PIA and Pakistan. Let me assure you most of the jobs in PIA are awarded on pure merit and the best candidate been selected for the post. Thus people with very high calibre able to join this world class airline. There is always misleading reports in the media that airline been flooded with political workers and on "sufarish" may be one or two such cases but rest is strictly by following law and procedures. For years RAW, Mossad and CIA are planning against this prized asset of Pakistan. Once its gone to private sector the pride of the nation will be tatters and thats what our enemy wants. There are some organisations which can not be sold or needs to be profitable like "Army" but essential for nation's integrity PIA is such organisation. Pakistan is country of 200 millions and they need jobs so no harm if we further employee some 10-15 thousands thus creating jobs and rolling the economy.

Pakistani Sindhi | 8 years ago | Reply Government should take initiatives by relaxing burden on the PIA by removing those 1200 employees (since the coming of the current federal ruling party). Also see if there is the real need for those foreign consultants, hired from Germany and France and who are receiving their salaries in dollars. Decrease the number of finance officers to one from five; wherever the need be, on pure basis of merit and competency, and by humbly offering the "Golden Shake" to those four in the betterment of the PIA.

Pakistani Sindhi | 8 years ago | Reply According to the figures the PIA suffers the loss of 10,000,0000 per day, 3,00,000,0000 per month, and annually 36,000,000,000. Pakistan Railways was suffering more losses than PIA does. It (Pak Railways) has stabilized - surprisingly enough, the railways minister comes from the PML-N party. Pakistan Railways is now earning billions of rupees. So why can't PML-N government think of the same vision for PIA?

Truth | 8 years ago | Reply Democracy at work! Terrorists are bailed out, sheltered and called human-rights activists while civilians are killed for just causes. While I have no sympathy for those workers, as most of them have come through nepotism; but the way they have received the treatment was uncalled for. If our law-enforcement agencies had shown this much resolute against terrorists; there would have been no havoc among the school-going kids and teachers.

Truth | 8 years ago | Reply @sabi: Divide and rule was the legacy of the British and somewhat the founders of Pakistan. Don't spread misinformation just because you hate ZAB or the PPP (of Zardari).

zzby | 8 years ago | Reply Some moderate humble and nice people harshly criticizing the workers. The situation in PIA is not there fault it is result of corruption and mis-management done by politicians and higher management. If you courage and balls and go out on street and try to criticize the politicians of your area and then you would be thrown into garbage.

Shah | 8 years ago | Reply We are mixing numbers of things here. Why someone shoot innocent protesters? How can we justified straight firing on protesters? Our country is going in loss so we will privatize it? There must be some logical solution. Govt should take some positive steps to fix the problem.

Saira Khan | 8 years ago | Reply PPP has looted PIA enough. There are over 10 jiyalas working for every single post of PIA since the year Musharraf left. Its about time PIA becomes the world class airline it was during the early years.

Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply The protest should be against bringing there services under essential services act. Private air lines make there workers work without any coercive tools like the said act.

Jamal | 8 years ago | Reply Before privatizing PIA, there should be a high level inquiry against those who brought the national flag bearer to near death. The nation needs to know the names, and see them punished, who enrolled thousands, on political and personal grounds, in PIA during past 30 years. The chains of corruption goes all the way to the top most. It is really sad to see how these cronies at top get away with crime. The loot and plunder as much as they like and then throw the corpse away on the name of privatization. We are still unable to get $800 million from Etisalat on acquisition of a stake in PTCL. Who will make sure same won't happen in case of PIA? The way Rangers thrashed the protesters, women, media people and senior citizens among them, is very disturbing. I wonder who deputed Rangers to stop the protesters. Is it part of their ToRs of Karachi operation?

Sabeeha | 8 years ago | Reply Very sad incident indeed. Solidarity to all the workers protesting and fighting for their jobs. Job well done by all the journalists who were doing their duties there. All the commentators here seems in favour of putting all the money in the world in the hands of few. Rest all the people should live in tatters, lick the boots of the rich and should sing songs to praise how fantastic those few are. Just a question, is Wapda doing any good after privatisation? Privatisation is an evil which sucks the money from the pockets of ordinary citizens and then allude to give the better service by selling the product back to the citizens in horrendous prices and if the citizens have nothing left to buy those expensive products, the Big, Few, Powerful get the bailout again from the pockets of the ordinary citizens. How incredible. Taxpayers lamenting here should ask to the government first to cut the budgets of their own luxuuries instead of killing people who are protesting for their right of employment.

Avatar | 8 years ago | Reply Today is indeed a sad day and blame goes to the leaders who were present at the situation. They failed to understand the situation and washed away with the strong current of emotions - resulted in death of two precious lives. Let's be honest, had any one come up with a bankable plan for revival of PIA? PIA accumulated losses is PKR 300 billion plus and each months add another PKR 800 million to pKR 1,000 million. How many years will be required to wipe out these mounting losses? PIA union leaders, politically backed and having their loyalty towards political parties rather than employees of PIA, should be sitting with the management to facilitate the privatisation in lieu of maximum possible benefits for the employees expected to be affected by PIA privatisation.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply If you tell an outsider that this mammoth crowd is a fraction of employees of an airline which has not more that forty planes,he would call you mad for exaggeration.

Ali S | 8 years ago | Reply @SKN: What do you mean by 'we' the taxpayers? 0.5% of Pakistan pays taxes - and that certainly doesn't include those who should be paying it the most (friends of Sharif & Co.). The Rangers' use of fire upon unarmed protesters (however ridiculous their demands may be) is unacceptable in any civilized society, plain and simple. If an organization as politically entrenched as K-Electric could undergo privatization in the volatile tail-end years of Musharraf, then why not PIA today? The Rangers don't know how to deal with civilian problems that require treading carefully and were heavy-handed in their response.

Aamer Hussain | 8 years ago | Reply The govt should recover with interest half a million spent on every doctor when he/she demands hundreds of thousands of rupees from poor patients. Why are these TAX PAYERS sleeping in case of doctors?

pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Put a good leader and back him.PIS will fix itself.

Amir | 8 years ago | Reply Also Media is playing a very negative role. Can they do an investigative reporting into the ills of running a government organization, NO hey type of nepotism that is going on, NO fraud, etc. NO. Can they investigate the union members and their arm twisting techniques and link with political party NO So better show a circus happening. Irresponsible reporting I would say

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply This is the legacy of ZAB,divide the nation on religion and plague every institution public or private with jialas.Net result is poverty and bloodshed isn't it.

Tax Payer | 8 years ago | Reply Perfectly executed, this PIA mafia should be ended right here! All the ex-employees and their families traveling on free tickets around the world for years!!! Why should we, the TAX PAYERS, always bail PIA out all the time. Its about time the "EX-EMPLOYEES" and the "FREE LOADERS" take the responsibility of this drama!!! The Tax-payers would not be arm twisted by the "FREE LOADERS" anymore. I know families of ex-employees retired for the last 18-20 years taking advantage of 3-4 yearly trips to US to Canada only to complete the Green Card/PR process without having to move their. Children of Ex-employees studying abroad taking weekly, biweekly trips back home during their 4 years of stay in Canada/US/UK. It has become a mockery.

Noreen Memon | 8 years ago | Reply Please, please put these disgusting looters to rest once and for all, Just close this damn apaology for an airline, give everyone 6 months salary and say goodbye. Start a new company after six months and hire strictly by need and merit at new salaries. All emplyees of former PIA without a criminal record or other charges are eligible to apply to a non-political hiring committee comprising airine professionals, management experts and a few educated pariamntarians of all major politocal parties. Maybe then, we will have some hope of stopping this cancer

ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply what if the firing happened at PTI sit in whom will be ask to resign now?

Confused | 8 years ago | Reply @Gemini: Simple solution: One Honest person to head PIA and another to lead the nation. Read history. Government managed PIA was the flag bearer of Pakistan. European and Asian countries requested Pakistan to reform their airlines. We still have honest people left.

Observer | 8 years ago | Reply I swear Imran Khan is now only a nuisance value in everything. This protest is by thieves and political backers who want to keep a cushy job while ruining the airline and costing billions to the government. And here Imran Khan wants to support the strike just to gain political points. He is lost it. His political career is over. As for these goons protesting, the government should handle them with an iron hand.

Karachiite | 8 years ago | Reply Why is it that only Karachi has to experience all this mess. All of these corrupt people should be jailed for 15 days for creating choas in the city.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply I support the privatization but Govt will sell it to their friends/relatives like MCB was sold to mansha. and what about corruption, by political parties due to which pis is in loss. will their be any justice

Syedpk | 8 years ago | Reply @Amir Unfortunately its only PPP who has political appointees in PIA as with most govt organisations, I am not a PML supporter, but truth be told they dont do mass political inductions, they do at the higher hierarchy. Its the PPP who does the mass political induction. and MQM never had the chance to get anything in PIA, if you have ever used KArachi airport, you will find out 99% of the employees from CAA to PIA are all directly hired from interior Sindh.

ZAK | 8 years ago | Reply Government is not to run businesses of country.It is always owned and run efficiently by private corporations. The job of govt is to regulate these corporations and collect taxes. These govt run organizations have become mafias playing in the hands corrupt peoples of unions. These are eating away large amounts of legal tax payers. Must must privatise.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @Tamerlane Taxpayer: Why should I as an honest tax payer be forced to bail out PIA.if The Sharif book keepers are simply counting wooden dollars so to say to give the impression that the airline is making losses? If this were to be true, would you as an investor be interested to buy a loss making corporation? Do the Governament employees or the army personnel pay the airline when they travel? Rex Minor

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply Was that an early retirement or a firing ?

Tamerlane Taxpayer | 8 years ago | Reply Why should I as an honest tax payer be forced to bail out PIA. Please ask the mad man slapping himself in the video answer this question? Why should I have to bear the extra burden to fund the losses of his poorly managed employer? My taxes should go into building schools, infrastructure and providing healthcare not to sustain a corrupt, inefficient airline which can be replaced by a private one. And please don't give me the story that this is a 'strategic national asset'. If that were the case Aer Serbia and Alitalia wouldn't be allowed to be sold to Etihad.

Frank | 8 years ago | Reply Nicely done. If people resort to violence just to create grievances for others, they should be answered with violence. I was also happy to hear that media got beaten up. It was probably their own fault. Usually is.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply There should be no surprise for the people, the Sharifs are preparing to hand over the country to the dark forces of army and rangers, the reinforced replay of the past. Rex Minor

Israr | 8 years ago | Reply One person pays another over a million rupees for a job and then gets shot at while trying to secure this job. Meanwhile, the other person goes to Dubai/UK/USA for pleasure-making. No questions asked to this person who sold jobs when there were no vacancies, just to make money for himself. Not difficult at all for the government to apprehend the second person but will they? Never. Because democracy will be seriously jeopardised if they do.

pervaiz | 8 years ago | Reply finish all these idiot at once for all time. I am being as tax payer do not want to waste my tax money on these terrors. That's all from us.

Aftab | 8 years ago | Reply It would be better if rangers find these mindless workers leading persons and shout them on point to resolve these burdensome bunch on taxpayers scarce resources.

Khalid | 8 years ago | Reply i have done all my international journeys on PIA except one. There is no doubt that air line is in mess. I think PIA employees should come up with some plan to re establish the air line. Otherwise ever drowing ship off load it's load in troubled times.

jojo | 8 years ago | Reply Who is going to punish those who created all this mess, who did nepotism and filled PIA with useless employees when ever they came in power, who brought this great air line to its knees, would there be any accountability of politicians who use government institutions for there politics. I will answer my self for the above query of mine, it is Pakistan baby here the law is only for poor, weak and under privileged, those who are in the Establishment and I mean the political, judicial, defense establishment would never be brought under law and status co has its roots every where, so do not expect any radical change at all..

Adeel | 8 years ago | Reply Terminate all those who're protesting. I am sure there are lot more deserving candidates around to fill-in the positions.

Shahid Akram | 8 years ago | Reply I do not like protest from PIA staff ? lakin fire kerne ki kya zarorat thi ?

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply Everyday a new drama in this country. There is something very wrong with these people.

Amir | 8 years ago | Reply Most of the gangster in PIA are political appointments made by successive PPP, PMLN, MQM, etc when they were in power. They are all now used to free passes. Majority do not even have any expertise to fix the planes. My cousin was an engineer in PIA and used to tell us how these political appointees would push trained engineers around, and the professional did not let them even touch the plane. Only good to bring tools etc, if even they showed up. Blackmailing is all they know how to do. Let's say PIA has 10,000 excess employee, who are usurping probably 250K per month, salary, benefits, etc. Simple math emp x salary x 12 = saving of Rs. 30 billion per year. Give them golden handshake and be on your way.

Timorlane | 8 years ago | Reply A MUCH NEEDED AND MUCH APPRECIATED STEP BY THE GOVERNMENT. It's about time we put our foot down on the blackmailing by the corrupt and criminal elements in this country.

Irfan | 8 years ago | Reply If government fire protesting employees from their jobs and put a ban on further hiring and give internal promition to fill vacancies I can bet PIA can come out of losses we won't even need to privatize it then

Gemini | 8 years ago | Reply @Confused: They are doing a right job, PIA is a burden on this economy and people sitting on big positions are all backed politically which is the main reason they are having huge loses. If you think privatization is not a solution then tell me 1 solution for this which will actually works. If you ask local govt to solve this issue they will only say 1 thing give us some aid and everything will be fixed and this will go on like this forever.

Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply Why to create a hype out of it . Who is behind creating this media frenzy to block the sale of a company that is causing billions in losses to Pakistanis. It is not only loss making but due to worst customer service, a shame to be associated as 'national asset' . No live updates are required. Or if you doing then do give details of 3 'serious' injuries. Did they break there finger while throwing bricks or what ?

Confused | 8 years ago | Reply Have the Rangers gone mad? This is not their job.

SKN | 8 years ago | Reply Govt shouldn't budge, these are political hirings and we the tax payers are paying for this. Hard steps need to be taken for permanent solution.

Malik Bhaijan | 8 years ago | Reply Well lets see if the government can fire these trouble makers. Once the 1st batch of "gangsters cum pia employees" get fired, the rest would fall in their place.

Awan | 8 years ago | Reply So what they are protesting for?. To let them enjoy with the current circumstances and let the tax payers of Pakistan bail their free lunches again and again.?

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