CAA union workers ‘beat up’ airport manager

Manager says union workers also sprayed graffiti against him.

KARACHI:

The two union activists of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) allegedly beat up the airport manager on Saturday after a heated argument.

An FIR No. 110/14 under Sections 337-F1, 506-B and 504/34 was registered against Nazeer Lakho and Sarwar Mangrio at the Airport police station on the complaint of the manager, M Asfar Malik.

"I saw graffiti on the walls of the airport's corridor that said, 'Airport manager and senior HR - both are mad'," said the manager in the statement he recorded with the police.

Malik asked Sarwar who sprayed it. Sarwar confessed that he did it and warned Malik of dire consequences if he took any action, Malik told the police. "Then I returned to my office and complained to the deputy DG about Sarwar. Later, Sarwar and Nazeer came to my office and beat me up."

The police conducted raids at their residences in Airport Staff Colony and Model Colony but they were not found, said inquiry officer SI Shahzad Tanoli.

A CAA spokesperson said that Malik was under pressure to take back certain administrative steps he had taken recently. "Malik is very strict about attendance and he has been demanding the employees show up on the time."

The information secretary of the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA), Farhan Ahmed, said the incident was the airport manager's own doing. "We condemn whatever has happened but the manager is very rude," said Ahmed. The union developed differences with the management over the fate of some 180 porters. "A few days ago, these porters were taken off airport duty and deputed to work on cleaning storm water drains," said Ahmed. "And then after the airport attack, the manager made them part of the vigilante service.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.