ISLAMABAD: The flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has further picked up momentum as 17 flights took off from their destinations despite continous protests by the employees of national-flag carrier against its proposed privatisation.
However, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of PIA has claimed that it allowed partial flight operation just for Umrah pilgrims. The missing protesters have also returned and joined the protests.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated that the government would not show any flexibility toward the protesters unless they call off strike unconditionally.
PIA spokesman Daniyal Gilani said that a warning letter about the application of the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952, was delivered to striking employees to make them aware that their strike was illegal. He said that 17 flights including domestic and Umrah flights were operated on Monday. The airline operated three domestic and 14 international flights, 10 of them for the Umrah pilgrims.
PIA operates 120 domestic and international flights from the countrywide airports on daily basis.
