PESHAWAR: The Pakistan People’s Party, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday called for an amicable solution to the prolonged standoff between the PIA employees and the federal government for the relief of troubled passengers.

It also announced it would resist the proposed PIA privatisation.

The announcement was made by PPP provincial general secretary Humayun Khan while talking to reporters here after participation in the protest camp put up by PIA employees.

He was accompanied by PPP women wing head and MPA Nighat Orakzai, People’s Lawyers Forum provincial president Akbar Khan, finance secretary Farzand Ali Khan and labour leader Shah Zulqarnain.

Mr. Humayun Khan said the federal government had failed to resolve the basic problems of the PIA employees complicating the issue by declaring the essential services act.

He said the action against employees was meant to suppress all those raising voice for own rights.

The PPP general secretary said the party would oppose the sale of national entities at throwaway prices and would take all possible steps to ensure the security of the workers’ jobs.

He said it was only the PPP, which always protected the rights of the people and encouraged labours, while the PML-N, which currently ruled the centre, was in the habit of sacking employees recruited during the PPP government.

Mr. Humayun Khan said the use of state power against protesting employees was no solution to the PIA issue and that it was the duty of the government to take workers’ demands seriously and hold negotiations with them for ending the crisis.

He said the prolonged strike of PIA employees had made things miserable for passengers as private airliners fleeced them without let or hindrance.

“We, the PPP, fully back the demands of the PIA employees and will not let the government privatise the national airline,” he said.

The PPP general secretary said if the PIA workers’ strike prolonged, then the workers of his party would accompany them in protests and if that happened, the situation would spin out of the government’s control.

He condemned the killing of PIA employees during protest and said the tragic incident had reminded the people of Ziaul Haq’s military regime, which was notorious for using force against labours, students and politicians.

Mr. Humayun Khan assured protesters of the party’s support in their struggle for rights.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2016