Some passengers expel Rehman, Ramesh over delay in flight - Daily Times

KARACHI - Former interior minister Rehman Malik and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Ramesh Kumar were forced to disembark PIA flight as passengers protested that the flight from Karachi to Islamabad was delayed on Monday night due to their late arrival.

After facing what they said was a delay of two hours, passengers of Islamabad-bound PIA flight from Karachi shouted at Pakistan People’s Party leader (PPP) Rehman Malik and Dr Ramesh Kumar and asked them to leave the aircraft. The two were accused of holding the plane back while other passengers waited for hours. However, PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar speaking to a private TV channel said that the delay in the flight was due to a technical issue and not the fault of Rehman Malik.

"PIA does not promote VIP culture but this flight was delayed for an hour and 30 minutes due to a technical reason. The delay had been conveyed to passengers via SMS," Tajwar said. He added that the plane took off at 8.55PM. "We are looking into what actually happened but after the delay, the flight departed when it was meant to." According to details, as the PPP leader approached the jetway that connects the terminal to the aircraft, furious passengers were heard saying, "Rehman Malik, sorry. You should go back. You should apologise to the passengers. You should be ashamed of yourself, 250 passengers have suffered because of you. It is your fault, sir."

The clip uploaded to video-sharing site dailymotion early on Tuesday showed passengers booing and ridiculing the lawmakers as they approached the aircraft to board. The two legislators left the aircraft amid chants and slogans by the agitated passengers. "Rehman Malik, you are not a minister any more. And even if you are, we don't care... anymore," the passengers said. PIA's flight PK-370 was scheduled to depart from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport at 7PM but passengers say it was delayed by more than two and a half hours.

Dr Ramesh Kumar appeared to be accompanying Rehman Malik, and was also taken off the aircraft. The flight departed for its destination without the two lawmakers. Hours after the video clip made the rounds on social media, Rehman tweeted that delay in the flight was not because of him, adding there should be an inquiry into the matter. He said neither he was a VIP person nor he has such behaviour.