KARACHI: A man who shot video clip of passengers preventing a former minister from boarding a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft and forcing another legislator to disembark for being late has been sacked from his job, according to a private television channel.

Arjumand Hussain shot the video clip last month when he and other passengers protested against what they called ‘VIP culture’ and prevented former interior minister Rehman Malik from boarding the aircraft and forced MPA Ramesh Kumar to disembark, for allegedly delaying PIA’s flight PK-370 for more than an hour.

The news channel reported that Mr Hussain, who was working as general manager for a major courier and logistics group, had been sacked because of his involvement in the protest.

The group issued a statement on Tuesday which confirmed that Mr Hussain had been removed from his job but claimed that it had been done “on merit” and not due to his involvement in the PK-370 incident.

A message posted on the group’s website said the decision to dismiss Mr Hussain was “purely based on merit” and that the company had been considering the decision for some time.

Narrating his side of the story to the news channel, Mr Hussain said he didn’t know why he had been sacked but that he had no regrets.

“I went to work yesterday and was told that the company didn’t need my services any longer. I returned home quietly and I have no grievances,” he remarked.

“I only stood up for my rights as a Pakistani and as an airline passenger,” he said, sticking to his stance that protesting against wrongdoing was his democratic right.

Mr Hussain dismissed allegations that he had used abusive language during the protest and said: “The video speaks for itself.

“The other passengers were angrier than me but my language was not out of line at all. I was assertive, not arrogant.”

He said he and other passengers like him were “just protesting against our system”.

About the two lawmakers’ claims that they did not cause the delay, Mr Hussain said his video clip showed clearly that Mr Malik and Mr Kumar were the only passengers who were late.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014