The recriminations following the fatal shooting at airport ensued when PIA’s Joint Action Committee head captain Sohail Baloch openly accused the Rangers personnel of firing at the protesters.
Talking to media yesterday, Baloch said “Rangers personnel wore mask before the lauching assault on the protesters and a few moments later they opened fire.”
Read here: PIA’s flight operations effectively cease following deaths of 3 protesting staffers
However, Rangers spokesperson promptly issued a statement rejecting all such claims. He said Rangers never opened fire on any protester to disperse them.
Who was Inayat Raza?
Inayat Raza, who lost his life during the protest, was a dedicated worker of the National Students Federation (NSF), which he joined in 1975 during his intermediate at the Ship Owners’ College in North Nazimabad, according to his close friends.
Inayat was elected the president of the Ship Owners College’s Students Union in 1979 and had also served as head of the Progressive Student Council.
He joined the Pakistan International Airlines’ IT department sometime in the mid-80s, and remained a loyal employee of the national flag carrier.
He leaves behind a widow and three daughters.
Protester point fingers at paramilitary force
According to one report, Reena Hameed from PIA’s IT department claimed during an interview with a local newspaper that law enforcers used the water cannon on us. She went on to say that following the water cannons, then tear gas shells were fired.
“After that a Rangers official told me to move aside as they would be opening fire. We didn’t believe them. But they were right,” she said.
“Inayat Raza, who lost his life in the firing, was communications manager in our department. He received the bullet in his chest while being our shield,” she added.
Another protester Tasswar Atiq was quoted as saying the paramilitary force didn’t even make any concessions for the women. “They literally picked us up and threw us aside when we refused to disperse.”
