March 09, 2007	Friday	Safar 19, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 8: Laptops of key Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officials were stolen during their stay in Brussels for talks with the European Union on restrictions imposed on the airline’s fleet.

The mysterious theft has left the airline’s management wondering about the motives behind the incident.

PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani, speaking at a media conference, accepted that his laptop and those of some of his management colleagues were stolen from the hotel where they were staying.

Mr Kirmani’s laptop was stolen from his room, while his colleagues lost their’s at the time of check-in.

The thieves also stole one of the files that the PIA chief had taken along with him to Brussels and even tore up his briefcase probably in search of certain documents. A report of the incident has been lodged with the Brussels police.

Probably someone might be interested in knowing about PIA’s business strategy, a guessing Kirmani said, adding that he was pretty sure that the thieves were well informed about him and his movements.

Interestingly, the incident has taken place in the same hotel where Mr Kirmani along with one of the country’s top leaders is believed to have given a briefing to a prospective buyer of the airline a few weeks earlier.

PIA management denies that privatization of the airline is on cards.

A senior official, however, said certain other investment issues were discussed at that meeting.