KARACHI, July 10: A workers union of the PIA has claimed that the Fokker aircraft that crashed near Multan on Monday met with the accident due to the lack of maintenance, and said that the overwork and fatigue being caused to the crews and mismanagement in the national carrier were other factors contributing to the tragedy.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, President of the Air League of PIA Employees Shamim Akmal demanded sacking of PIA chief Tariq Kirmani, Senior Vice-President Farooq Shah, Director Administration Waseem Bari, Director Engineering Mr Gul and certain other senior officials.

He claimed that cabin and cockpit crews had long been subjected to overwork and were being denied adequate rest which was badly affecting their efficiency.

He said that Air League, which acted as the CBA when union activities in PIA were suspended, had time and again raised the issue with the management asking it not to overburden the crew.

He said that the issue had also been raised through media to draw the government’s attention. He alleged that since Mr Kirmani had taken the charge, the crew was not being provided sufficient rest between two flights, making flights vulnerable to disasters. The government also did not take any notice of the management’s policy.

Mr Akmal pointed out that a number of technical employees of the engineering department had quit PIA and join some other airlines for better wages and working conditions. This had crippled the department, he added.

He claimed that 40-year-old Fokkers were being used by PIA.

He demanded that crew be allowed sufficient rest and an adequate number of crew members for every flight be ensured. He also stressed on proper maintenance of all aircraft to ensure safety of every person on board.

Mr Akmal demanded payment of compensation for each victim of the crash.

On the occasion, he distributed a statement of the International Transport Workers Federation which read: “The safety in air traffic is dependent on a healthy and cheerful flight crew, but when the flight crew are forced to work for lengthy hours even 22 hours a day they are on the verge of total collapse which has made PIA flights unsafe due to fatigue factor. The flight crew flying-hours be made in line with flying hours as applicable in other airlines to avoid work fatigue and avoid disasters.”

Had the PIA management listened to its union or to the international federation, this disaster could have been avoided, Mr Akmal argued.