Overview
- PIA dismissed SAEP President Abdullah Jadoon and Secretary General Awais Jadoon after they did not appear for personal hearings, with a notification citing action under airline regulations following earlier inquiries.
- Management says the refusal to issue aircraft clearance certificates constitutes an illegal strike under the Essential Services Act and warns that participants face legal consequences.
- Engineers have protested for more than two months over pay and benefits, and their refusal to sign off aircraft has led to widespread delays, cancellations and stranded passengers at major airports.
- SAEP leaders argue they are not on strike, allege pressure to clear planes with technical issues and say they will challenge the terminations in court.
- PIA accuses the engineers of seeking to disrupt the carrier’s privatisation process, while the airline reports making alternative maintenance arrangements to keep operations running.