ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani on Monday sent two senior officials on mandatory retirement, sources said. They said that the director airport services Col (retired) Ahsan Siddiq and director general services Salman Javed had been relieved of their duties.

The decision by Mr Kirmani was hailed by some employees in the organization who said the two officers sent on mandatory retirement were close to the former chairman and obstructing some of the steps which Mr Kirmani wanted to implement.

PIA public relations general manager Samina Pervez neither confirmed nor denied the report. She said a board meeting was in progress when she left the office.

She said the board was contemplating to retire and promote some officers.

The spokesperson expressed inability to give the names of the persons promoted in place of the two retired officers.