BAHAWALPUR, May 30: Hundreds of intending Umra pilgrims have alleged that PIA deliberately denied them tickets before May 31 as the airlines has decided to increase fare from June 1.

Some of the pilgrims staged a protest demonstration on Monday in front of the local booking office of the airlines and alleged that due to raise in fares by more than Rs4,000 they had not been accommodated before June 1.

According to affected pilgrims, many of them might lose the chance of Umra as their visas could be expired and PIA had not assured them that they would be accommodated in the flights by June 10.

Meanwhile, PIA district manager Abdul Sattar, while denying the charges, assured the pilgrims that they would be accommodated and the situation would improve soon.