PESHAWAR, March 11: Stranded Chitralis clashed with PIA staff and manhandled two reservation assistants here at the airline’s main booking office on Tuesday, eyewitnesses and officials said.

Around 500 Chitralis who had encircled the PIA office for more than an hour, accused the reservation staff of favouritism.

Harsh arguments between intending passengers and reservation staff led to the manhandling of two reservation assistants Bilal Ahmad and Yahya Sithi. Airline officials denied charges and said that the Chitralis had damaged office record and took away blank tickets. The protesters started chanting slogans against the officials following which the management closed the office and informed the police.