In a bid to disperse protesting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees at Jinnah Terminal, security personnel resorted to baton-charging and using rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas shells on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for implementation of the Essential Services Act.
An injured protester Inayat Raza, who sustained a bullet wound in his chest during the protest, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Raza was a member of PIA’s engineering department.
Deputy Inspector General East Kamran Fazal said bullet casings were collected to ascertain who opened fire on the protesters. He claimed the bullets were not fired by policemen. “We instructed our personnel not to handle the protesters violently. We are trying to find out who initiated the clash,” he said.
“No Rangers personnel has fired to control the protest at Jinnah Terminal today,” Rangers Public Relations Officer said in an official statement.
At least three other people, including a DawnNews cameraman, were injured during the protest, as security officials also dispersed journalists and media personnel covering the incident, DawnNews reported.
Essential Services Maintenance Act 1952 for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was given the green signal by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday 1st February, 2016.
Pervaiz Rashid, Federal Minister for Information told the media, “Let me make clear that those who continue the strike will be treated as enemies of PIA and Pakistan and they will end up losing their jobs.”
He also added that the national airlines was experiencing a deficit of Rs 30 billion and these strikes only hinder the growth. However, today the employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) who were protesting were dispersed by water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and were charged with batons as well.
Nasrullah Khan, President of Pakistan Airlines Cabin Crew Association and spokesman for JAC said that the protests will continue unless the government accepts the four point agenda.
PIA JAC’s four-point agenda:
- The Government should immediately take back the bill passed on January 21 converting the national flag carrier into a public limited company.
- PIA’s employees be provided a chance to reform the airline. If the employees fail to do so, the government will have the freedom to do whatever it finds suitable.
- Privatisation, in any form, whether it is in the form of a strategic partner or selling off 36 percent or 1pc of the organisation’s shares, is not acceptable to the employees.
- The Government should immediately review the aviation policy and form a committee for this purpose comprising members from PIA employees’ JAC along with PIA experts Khursheed Anwar, Kamran Hasan and Salahuddin.
