PIA halts BD flights till March 10

FE Report
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday suspended flight operations to Bangladesh till March 10, owing to harassment of crew and passengers by security agencies here, reported a Pakistani newspaper.
The Express Tribune on the day reported quoting a PIA spokesperson, "We have suspended flight operations to Bangladesh till March 10. The protest will continue till (necessary) action is taken."
The report cited harassment of PIA crew and passengers as the reason for the suspension.
On Thursday, foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said they have contacted Bangladesh High Commission, seeking clarification regarding the harassment of crew and passengers, it added.
According to PIA sources, Bangladeshi intelligence officers have been harassing its officials for the past two months. Yesterday, PIA flight PK-266 was delayed for three hours for security checking.
PIA station manager in Bangladesh Ali Abbass was also held by the security forces, and was later deported to Pakistan. Several raids have also been conducted in the houses of PIA officials on suspicion of smuggling fake currency.
While contacted, civil aviation authority of Bangladesh director (flight and safety regulation) Group Captain S M Nazmul Anam told the FE that PIA authority did not officially inform them anything about their decision until Friday evening, and that he can say more about the issue on Sunday, if PIA sends any letter by this time.
Regarding the allegations, Mr Anam said he is totally unaware of any harassment of the PIA crew or passengers.
Any flight delay of PIA due to security checking is a concern of the director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he added.
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