Karachi, May 12: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said today all domestic and international flights from Karachi were delayed because cabin crews could not reach the airport because of road blocks.
The main road to the airport in Pakistan's biggest city was blocked today apparently in a bid by government supporters to disrupt plans by the country's suspended chief justice to hold a rally with his supporters in the city.
''There has been a disturbance to our flight schedule since last night. It's not because we don't have planes but the reason is our cockpit and cabin crews cannot reach the airport,'' said PIA spokesman Nasir Jamal.
City police said they did not know who had parked trucks and oil tankers and placed containers across city roads, virtually sealing off the airport and much of the city centre.
But a government official, who declined to be identified, said authorities had blocked the roads in the interests of maintaining order.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who the government suspended on March 9 over undisclosed charges of misconduct, was due to fly into Karachi from the capital, Islamabad, at around 1200 hrs and address lawyers at the city-centre High Court.
Jamal said incoming flights were not disrupted.
Hundreds of travellers were stranded at the airport, said one passenger waiting for a domestic flight.
Reuters>
The main road to the airport in Pakistan's biggest city was blocked today apparently in a bid by government supporters to disrupt plans by the country's suspended chief justice to hold a rally with his supporters in the city.
''There has been a disturbance to our flight schedule since last night. It's not because we don't have planes but the reason is our cockpit and cabin crews cannot reach the airport,'' said PIA spokesman Nasir Jamal.
City police said they did not know who had parked trucks and oil tankers and placed containers across city roads, virtually sealing off the airport and much of the city centre.
But a government official, who declined to be identified, said authorities had blocked the roads in the interests of maintaining order.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who the government suspended on March 9 over undisclosed charges of misconduct, was due to fly into Karachi from the capital, Islamabad, at around 1200 hrs and address lawyers at the city-centre High Court.
Jamal said incoming flights were not disrupted.
Hundreds of travellers were stranded at the airport, said one passenger waiting for a domestic flight.
Reuters>
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