KARACHI: Leaders of the PPP Labor Division and the People’s Unity of PIA Employees have vowed to challenge the privatization of PIA in an international court.
At a joint press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, Hidayatullah Khan, President of People’s Unity of PIA Employees, Chaudhry Manzoor, Senior PPP Leader and Incharge of the Labor Division, and Habibuddin Janjedi, President of PPP Labor Division Sindh, expressed strong opposition to the move.
Hidayatullah Khan criticized the government’s privatization plan, stating that PIA was being privatized as part of a deliberate agenda. He said their bid to join the privatization process was rejected without justification. “If this continues, we will take the matter to the International Court of Justice through the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF),” Khan warned.
He also demanded written assurances from the government that the salaries and benefits of both current and retired PIA employees would remain secure.
Khan announced that a symbolic one-hour protest would begin on Tuesday, with a larger demonstration scheduled for December 23.
Addressing concerns about potential violations of the Essential Services Act during protests, Khan reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful protests, emphasizing that they oppose any extreme actions but urge the government to address the concerns of thousands of employees.
Chaudhry Manzoor condemned the privatization plan, calling it both unconstitutional and illegal. He argued that PIA’s problems cannot be solved through privatization, but by adding new aircraft to the airline’s fleet.
