KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) flight operations were disrupted this week due to a strike by aircraft engineers, causing difficulties for hundreds of passengers as the national flag carrier vowed legal action against those involved in the protest.

At least six PIA flights were delayed on Monday night after members of the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) went on strike, local media widely reported. The strike caused several planes to remain grounded, causing hundreds of passengers to remain stranded at airports. 

Citing sources from within the SAEP, Pakistani news website Geo.tv reported that the engineers were protesting over not receiving a raise in eight years. Sources said that the national flag carrier is also facing a serious shortage of spare parts, alleging that its engineers are “coerced” to clear aircraft for flights in breach of aviation rules.

In a statement issued late Monday night, the PIA said the SAEP has no legal standing. It alleged that the protest’s primary objective is to sabotage the airline’s privatization, which is in its final stages. 

“Using safety concerns as a pretext to collectively stop work under a planned scheme is a malicious conspiracy aimed at causing inconvenience to PIA passengers and exerting undue pressure on the management,” the PIA spokesperson said in a statement. 

Pakistan has been attempting to privatize the debt-ridden PIA to raise funds and reform state-owned enterprises as envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program secured last year. Late last year, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered $36 million for a 60 percent stake in the national flag carrier, a fraction of the asking price of approximately $303 million.

Pakistani officials have said the government plans to sell the airline by year-end. 

The airline’s spokesperson said the Pakistan Essential Services Act is in effect at the PIA, warning that under it strikes and stopping work are considered a crime. 

“All individuals involved in such conspiratorial activities, or those supporting them, will face legal action,” the spokesperson warned.

In a subsequent statement issued on Tuesday morning, the airline’s spokesperson said flight operations have started to resume through alternative arrangements. He said the PIA’s PK-245 from Islamabad to Dammam flight and its PK-761 flight from Islamabad to Jeddah have departed for their destinations.

“Tech logs for other flights are also being cleared for departure and the management is present at the airports,” the airline said. “No group or individual will be allowed to cause inconvenience to passengers or obstruct flight departures in any way.”