Grounded: Protest against cancellation of flight

Flight PK-347 set to carry 96 passengers from Bahawalpur to Karachi cancelled for technical reasons.

BAHAWALPUR: Flight PK-347 set to carry 96 passengers from Bahawalpur to Karachi on Wednesday morning was cancelled for technical reasons. Bahawalpur Airport PIA Station manager Muhammad Mushtaq said that the flight to Karachi at 6.00am tomorrow has been cancelled. The passengers were due to fly via PK-741 at 6.00pm on Wednesday evening from Karachi to Jeddah for offering umrah. On being informed of the cancellation, several passengers protested at the Bahawalpur airport. Sajid Mustafa, one of the passengers, told The Express Tribune that PIA had offered to fly them from Lahore to Karachi but told them they must travel on their own expense. “I am travelling with 20 family members. How are we expected to manage the cost?” he said. Tariq Bukhari, another passenger, said that he was sure the flight from Karachi would also be delayed. He said he hoped to be able to get to Karachi via train in time for the flight. Ahsanul Haq Chaudhary, another passenger, said that he would sue PIA if he missed the umrah flight.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2012.