- Following investigations initiated last year: notification.
- Civil servants dismissed under PIA regulations.
- The general secretary of the SAEP undertakes to challenge the decision in court.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked the president and general secretary of the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) after a dispute between the national carrier’s administration and engineering staff escalated and disrupted flight operations in recent days.
A notification has been issued regarding the dismissal of SAEP Chairman Abdullah Jadoon and General Secretary Awais Jadoon, stating that they were removed from their positions under relevant PIA regulations after they failed to appear for personal hearings on November 4 and 5 before the airline’s CEO.
The notice said the action followed investigations launched last year, adding that the two officials had multiple opportunities to present their case.
Sources said PK Press Club News that the move coincided with engineers’ ongoing protests over working conditions and safety grievances.
Awais, the union’s general secretary, said the dismissals were linked to engineers’ refusal to clear planes with technical defects. “We will challenge these decisions in court on the basis of existing documents,” he added.
He said the main reason for the dismissal was the engineers’ insistence on highlighting safety issues and alleged violations of aviation maintenance standards.
The protest by the national airline’s aeronautical engineers had caused delays to dozens of flights in Karachi. The protest prompted the airline to make alternative maintenance arrangements as engineers stopped issuing safety clearances, leaving several planes grounded and passengers stranded at major airports.
Two days ago, SAEP said its members would not return to work until the airline’s CEO revised his position and opened negotiations.
According to SAEP sources, engineers have been wearing black armbands for more than two months to assert their demands. They said that even during the peaceful and prolonged protest, airline management did not engage in formal dialogue, The News reported.
The sources added that engineers have not received a raise in eight years and the airline is facing a shortage of spare parts, alleging that engineers are being pressured to allow planes to fly despite technical problems.
The union said it could not compromise passenger safety, even under pressure from the administration.
Meanwhile, the national airline’s CEO ordered strict action against aeronautical engineers and warned that anyone disrupting operations would face disciplinary action.
On the other hand, a PIA spokesperson said that the body of aeronautical engineers has no legal status and asserted that “the real aim of this movement is to sabotage the privatization of the airline.”
He said calling it a “security issue” and quitting his job at the same time was a deliberate attempt to disrupt operations and put pressure on the administration.
“Pakistan’s Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952, is in force in the national airline, making strikes and walkouts illegal,” the CEO said, adding that those who participate or support such actions will face legal consequences.
