Govt mishandled PIA issue, says KP CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the federal government has mishandled the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) issue by using force against the peaceful protesters.

Talking to reporters during his visit to the PIA building at Peshawar Cantonment to show solidarity with the airline employees who were protesting privatisation of the institution and killing of their colleagues, he said the federal government had failed to improve the performance of the airline.

The chief minister assured the PIA employees of support of the provincial government and his party against privatisation of the airline, said a handout. “There is a need to improve the performance of airline and restore its previous glory,” he maintained.

He deplored that the federal government mishandled the issue instead of investigating causes of its failure and exposing elements responsible for harming the institution. The chief minister urged the federal government to start negotiations with agitating employees to resolve the issue amicably.