Pakistan cuts flights after 3 die in clashes

Aviation authorities in Pakistan said dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled on Wednesday, a day after three workers of the state airlines were killed in clashes with the police in the southern port city of Karachi.

The protest against the government plan to privatize the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) turned violent when the police fired tear gas shells and used baton to disperse hundreds of protesters.

The protesters said their three colleagues died of bullets, however, the police denied firing and said they are investigating as to who had fired.

PIA pilots refused to fly aircraft on Wednesday as angry workers staged rallies in major cities including capital Islamabad, representatives of the protesting workers said.

The PIA workers closed the main office in Islamabad. Reports say main offices in other cities were also closed down by the protestors, suspending sale of the tickets.

The Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed cancellation of flights and said negotiations are underway with private airlines to accommodate those passengers who had confirmed reservations.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman Pervez George told the media that the authorities have requested a leading airlines to include additional flights between major cities.

Section of the media reported that nearly 120 international and domestic flights were suspended as the pilots refused to work on the second day of the strike.

Hundreds of passengers suffered due to the cancellation of flights.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says that the PIA saw millions of rupees loses due to the strike. He had warned the protesting workers that they could lose jobs if they did not end strike.

The government has invoked the Essential Services law that prohibits any union activities and strikes in the PIA, however, the workers ignored the order. Enditem