KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) sacked on Friday three employees and suspended a fourth one on charges of human traficking, corruption and negligence.

The airline's spokesman, Mohammad Aamir Memon, told Dawn that three staff members were dismissed from service for issuing an unauthorised boarding card to a passenger identified as Mohammad Akram at Allama Iqbal International Airport., Lahore.

The passenger, supposed to be in Dubai on June 16, instead landed in Toronto aboard a PIA flight.

According, to Mr Memon, the corruption case involving the three employees came to light when the passenger claimed asylum after landing in Toronto and the Canadian authorities got in touch with the PIA management.

The spokesman said that an investigation was conducted into the matter and it was found that Hammad Butt, the senior passenger services officer, Asif Arzani Khan, the reservation and ticketing officer, and check-in staff Sumaira Yasmin were involved.

Mr Butt and Mr Khan are in custody of the Federal Investigation Agency and Ms Yasmin is out on pre-arrest bail.

The passenger services supervisor, Zulfiqr Dar, according to a statement, was suspended because of negligence.