PTI head has strongly condemned the assault on protesting PIA workers today at Karachi airport, which left at least two workers dead and half-a-dozen injured.
He castigated the government for its move to privatize the national flag carrier. Khan warned that PTI protest could also transform into a dharna (sit-in).
1.Our condolences to families of PIA employees Salim Akbar Engineer & Inayat Raza Manager IT brutally killed for protesting ag privatisation
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 2, 2016
2. There has been a delib destruction of PIA, a national asset, through appointment of incompetent governing/management bodies & cronyism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 2, 2016
3. To further undermine PIA a throwaway of landing rights to foreign airlines – 108 landing rights in the last year alone! Shocking.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 2, 2016
4. PIA starved of necessary resources for turnaround while Sharif bros shower money on commission-sucking projects like Orange train.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 2, 2016
5. We will not allow wholesale economic oppression of the ppl & will begin our nationwide protests from 6 Feb inshaAllah.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 2, 2016
Meanwhile, opposition parties have demanded formation of judicial commission to probe the incident. Pakistan People’s Party and PTI have been quite vocal against looming privatization of the PIA.
The protest of PIA employees turned violent today when they attempted to move towards Jinnah Terminal, which was opposed by the management. Subsequently Rangers and police were called to control the situation and that transformed into a clash as law enforcers used batons and water cannons to disband the protesters.