PIA flight operations continue amid employees protest

PIA employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) had reiterated its resolve to go on strike at 7: 00 am but the flight data at the airports show 10 PIA flights from 7:00 am-9:00 am have departed within two hours. Only two domestic flights cancelled during the the employees protest. A PIA spokesman, however, said that the two flights were not cancelled due to protest but due to technical reasons.

PIA management has under a strategy made arrangement of the alternate staff and got services of the private airlines staff to continue ground operations of the national airlines.

According to employees action committee sources, the government has refused to accept the demands of the protesting employees.

The government has invoked the Essential Services Act 1952 under which the services of the employees who will refuse to perform his duty would be terminated even they could face one year jail term under the law.

Chairman JAC Sohail Baloch has vowed to continue their protest in the face of all odds. He also said that the employees will challenge the Essential Services Act in the court of law.

According to reports, the protesting employees have started a procession from the PIA head office to Jinnah terminal.

Heavy contingents of the law enforcement personnel have been deployed on the airport to avoid any untoward incident.