MY wife and I are elderly citizens and have been travelling for the last 45 years mostly by PIA. We are both suffering from arthritis, more so my wife who is now confined to a wheel chair.

This year I booked our seats in March about two months before flying on May 25 by PK 785 Islamabad to London (Heathrow).

I requested the booking staff at the PIA office at The Mall, Rawalpindi, to allot us seats in row 21 so that we could have more leg space and could stretch our legs according to the advice by our orthopaedic surgeon.

The staff at the counter apologised saying that these seats are blocked and could only be allotted at the travel counter on the day of travel on merit. We were advised to report four hours before travel to make our travel comfortable in row number 21.

We were the first ones to report at the airport and we requested the lady to allot us seats in row 21. She told us that all the seats had been allotted and she was unable to concede to our request. She showed me the asterisk marks on the computer screen showing the non-availability of the desired seats.

PROF (Dr) SABIR HUSSAIN SHAH London

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.