Strike enters fifth day: government rejects Palpa's demands

The government on Monday rejected the demands of Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA) saying such demands tantamount to challenging the writ of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management. The PALPA strike continued for 5th consecutive day as the second round of talks with the Aviation Division failed to make any headway. The strike has resulted in immense troubles to the passengers, besides millions of losses to PIA as the number of cancelled flights has reached 67.
Talking to mediapersons, Sher Ali Khan spokesperson for the Aviation Division said PALPA President Captain Amir Hashmi was called to Aviation Division on Monday and was informed by Senior Joint Secretary Aviation Division Captain Ahmed Latif that demands put forward by PALPA in the Sunday's meeting tantamount to challenging the writ of the PIA management, hence are not acceptable.
The demands include: (i) immediate replacement of Director Flights Operation, (ii) immediate withdrawal of all show cause notices, inquiries, investigations and legal notices issued to pilots on disciplinary grounds and reinstatement of all grounded pilots and (iii) fixation of seniority of pilots as per the wishes of PALPA. Khan said Hashmi was informed there should be no preconditions and PALPA should immediately resume normal flight operation. However, the PIA management is willing to sit with PALPA representatives and listen to their legitimate demands. He said that PALPA strike is not only source of financial losses to PIA, but also damaging the brand and its reputation.
He further said that a way forward was offered to PALPA that a team may be constituted comprising four senior pilots of PIA and four representatives of PALPA, along with two observers from the PIA management, which would formulate future course of action to resolve all issues within 24-48 hours.
However PALPA President refused to budge and insisted that PALPA's three demands to be met forthwith, said Khan, adding that this inflexible stance is causing inconvenience to the passengers and inflicting unnecessary financial and other losses to the national carrier. The spokesman further said that the PIA management will take all necessary measures possible to facilitate the smooth operation of all PIA flights, especially the Hajj flights. The Aviation Division as well as the PIA management appreciates the services of the vast majority of pilots who did not succumb to PALPA's pressure and remained loyal to their organisation, dutifully serving the people of Pakistan. All available options will be exercised to cater for any possible shortage of pilots. However, he said PIA is facing difficulties on flight operations, especially domestic flights.