Another turn: PIA employees split over strike

Flights operated until afternoon, suspended on fear of clashes

PESHAWAR/ PIA: Although Pakistan International Airline (PIA) employees had decided to go on strike across the country on Tuesday, many of them remained divided over whether to boycott flight operations or not.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune five flights operated at Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) in the city until 1:45pm. These included three international flights. One of them departed for Dubai at 8:55am while another left for Abu Dhabi at 9:52am. A flight arrived from Abu Dhabi at BKIA at 8:22am.

However, two PIA flights bound to Kuala Lumpur and Karachi, which were scheduled to take off later in the day, were not allowed to fly from the airport.  According to insiders, the national carrier also flew to Chitral at 1:45pm while a flight arrived from Karachi at 7:22am.

Flight operations were suspended late afternoon as there was possibility of a confrontation between various groups as many employees refused to participate
in protests.

“We don’t want any confrontation,” a senior PIA official told The Express Tribune. “The same situation had led to scuffles among PIA employees in the past.”

For the sake of work

Officials who refused to become part of the strike said they wanted a peaceful solution to the matter.

“We cannot join [protesters] since we have to run things and the management will never support them,” a high-ranking PIA official at BKIA said. “But at the same time, we cannot confront them.”

He added they have received directions from the headquarters not to leave their offices.

“Flights operated until 1:45pm when PK-661 departed for Chitral,” the official said. “We don’t have a problem in receiving passengers. However, those travelling to other cities or abroad are likely to face problems,” he added.

“The strike can either lead to my termination or the police could arrest me since the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1952 has been implemented,” another PIA employee at BKIA said.

Agitated employees

However, the protesting employees left their offices and gathered in the waiting area of the airport.

PIA K-P Officers Association General Secretary Sajjad Ahmad said Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was dealing with flights arriving at BKIA. However, flights departing from the airport were being stopped.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd,  2016.