Watch: Former Pakistani minister Rehman Malik 'thrown' out of plane by furious passengers
Karachi: Furious over being forced to wait over two hours, airline passengers chased Pakistani politician Rehman Malik out of the aircraft. The incident took place on Monday when PIA's flight PK 370 was waiting to take off from Karachi.
Flight authorities initially informed the passengers that the delay was caused due to a 'technical fault' only to be later told that the crew was waiting for Rehman Malik of the Pakistan People's Party, a former Interior Minister.
Irked by the delay, a group of passengers blocked the entrance and said that Malik is no God and that he might as well catch a bus.
"Malik Saab, you should be ashamed of yourself. You should apologise. You kept 250 passengers waiting," a passenger shouted, rushing forward when the politician approached the plane. We have taken it for 68 years. No more!" he said.
Mr Malik was seen hovering at the aerobridge, trying to argue with the agitated crowd, only to be shouted down by a chorus of "You are not a minister anymore! Come down to earth!"
He finally turned around and walked back towards the airport.
Read: Pakistanis debate VIP culture after lawmakers thrown off plane
A passenger commented, "Close the gates and fly this plane to Islamabad. This should be recorded, Rehman Malik has been offloaded. We threw him out!"
PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar confirmed to Dawn that shift manager Nadeem Abro and terminal manager Shehzad have been suspended due to the delayed take-off of PK-370.
Another passenger who claimed that he had nothing to do with the minister was waiting outside. As he admitted that he was a member of the ruling PML-N, passengers made him go back too.
Malik took to twitter to defend himself.
I hv right to defend myself agst the allegation.PK370 /1900hr was delayed b/c tech reasons/was expected to leave at 2030. So no delay for me
— Rehman Malik (@SenRehmanMalik) September 16, 2014
Why am I being linked with PMLN minister.i saw the noise with the minister and decided not to go on the flight as One PTI worker was yelling
— Rehman Malik (@SenRehmanMalik) September 16, 2014
am now leaving by pk 300 and now in the plane.50 minutes delay has been announced who shd be blamed for this delay.PIA or me?Obviously PIA
— Rehman Malik (@SenRehmanMalik) September 16, 2014
Watch: Rehman Malik Thrown Out of the Plane for Delaying Flight for 2 hours
