Two protesting workers of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) were killed and at least 18 others were injured when they tried to block the country’s main airport during a clash with Rangers and police at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
A water canon was used to disperse the employees who were protesting against proposed privatization of PIA.
Reports said Rangers resorted to baton charge and fired teargas shells after stone-pelting by infuriated workers, leaving dozens of them injured.
A large number of women protesters was also in the protest rally that was taken out a day after enforcement of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ban workers’ protest.
Report said a PIA worker, who suffered a gunshot wound during the protest, later succumbed to his injury at a private hospital. The victim was identified as Inayat Raza, who was working at IT department of PIA.
According to Sohail Baloch, head of Joint Action Committee of PIA workers, two PIA workers were killed and at least 18 injured including women.
Spokespersons of police and Rangers later claimed in a statement that none of the personnel fired shots over protestors.
Despite promulgation of the law, the workers of national flag carrier went ahead with their plan to bring countrywide flight operations to standstill today.
However, PIA management claims the schedule is not disturbed anywhere in the country. PIA spokesman Danyal Gilani, while speaking to Samaa, said flights from Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and other cities departed as per schedule.
By enforcing the ESMA, the government has abolished all unions of workers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed PIA administration to take action against those employees who continue to abstain from duties.
The ESMA envisioned serious penalties for the protesting employees, including dismissal from service, imprisonment for a maximum period of one year and fine.
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