Angry passengers on board a PIA flight stopped former Interior Minister Rehman Malik and a lawmaker of the ruling PML-N from boarding the plane, accusing them of causing over two hours of delay.
The Islamabad-bound Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-370 from Karachi was delayed by two-and-a-half hours on Monday as it kept waiting for the arrival of Mr. Malik and National Assembly member Dr. Ramesh Kumar Wakwani.
When they finally came, the passengers stopped them from boarding the aircraft.
According to a video clip repeatedly shown by the local media, passengers were shouting at Mr. Malik, who was filmed going back hurriedly when confronted by the passengers.
“Malik sahab , sorry. You should go back. You should apologise to these passengers. You should be ashamed of yourself...250 passengers have suffered because of you. It is your fault, sir,” a passenger was heard saying in the clip.
“Malik sahab , you are not a minister any more. And even if you are, we don’t care...anymore,” he said.
PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar speaking to Dawn said that the delay in the flight was due to a technical issue and not because of Mr. Malik.
“PIA does not promote VIP culture...but this flight was delayed an hour and 30 minutes due to a technical reason,” Mr. Tajwar said.
“The delay had been conveyed to passengers via SMS. Some passengers who had given the contact details of their travel agent may not have been conveyed the message by their agents,” Mr. Tajwar said.
