ISLAMABAD; Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday dismissed Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) President Abdullah Jadoon and Secretary General Awais Jadoon, escalating tensions between the national carrier and its engineers’ association.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafiz confirmed the dismissals, saying both officials were terminated following disciplinary inquiries. Copies of the dismissal notices, cite unauthorised press conferences, disclosure of confidential information, and refusal to appear before inquiry panels as grounds for termination.
According to the notices, both officials were repeatedly given opportunities to defend themselves but failed to appear. The management, after reviewing evidence and witness statements, found them guilty of misconduct and dismissed them with immediate effect.
The move comes amid a two-and-a-half-month standoff between PIA management and protesting aircraft engineers, who have been withholding aircraft clearance certificates to press for salary increases and better working conditions. The protest has led to flight delays and cancellations at several airports nationwide.
While PIA maintains that the engineers are engaging in an illegal strike under the Essential Services Act, SAEP insists that engineers remain on duty and are only refusing to clear planes that do not meet safety standards.
Awais Jadoon earlier said the engineers would not compromise on airworthiness or passenger safety, despite pressure to resume routine clearance procedures. He added that no negotiations had been held with PIA’s management to address their grievances.
PIA has accused the protesting engineers of attempting to sabotage the airline’s ongoing privatisation process. Despite disruptions, the airline claims to have restored partial flight operations through alternate arrangements.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at major airports earlier this week due to the protest, which delayed multiple domestic and international flights.
