A group of charged Indian activists attacked the PIA office in New Delhi and damaged it yesterday afternoon, said a spokesman for the national flag carrier here.
He said the activists, while raising anti-Pakistan slogans, damaged computers and furniture of the office. The officials of the airline, however, remained safe. Police, on receiving information, immediately reached the scene and brought the situation under control. They also arrested one person from the spot.
PIA spokesman Danyal Gillani said the airlines’ flight operation to India would not be affected and PK-270 would operate as per schedule on Friday (today). He said the PIA operates from Pakistan five flights a week to Indian destinations – two from Karachi to Bombay, one from Karachi to Delhi and two from Lahore to Delhi. The Indian foreign office has taken up the matter with local authorities.
Agencies add: According to Indian media, a group of Shiv Sena activists ransacked the office of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Delhi.
Sources said around eight members of the right-wing group ransacked the office of the PIA in Connaught Place and raised slogans against Pakistan. The attack took place in the afternoon and attackers were alleging Pakistan was not doing enough to punish those involved in the Pathankot terror attack. They also expressed their anger against Pakistan for not confirming the arrest of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar. Soon after the incident, the local police station was alerted and a team of policemen immediately rushed to the spot. The attackers were arrested. A police picket has been deployed in the area for security reasons.
Preliminary investigations revealed the attackers were associated with the same group that had called the police last year, complaining that beef was being served at Kerala House in the national capital.
APP adds from Islamabad: The Indian government Thursday assured Pakistan of taking all necessary steps for the security of the PIA offices in India.
A statement of the Foreign Office said the PIA office in New Delhi was ransacked by a group of extremists. The Pakistan High Commission immediately took up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs, asking them to provide adequate security to the PIA offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, besides taking action against the miscreants. “We have been assured by the Indian government that it will take all necessary steps for the security of the PIA offices in India,” the statement said.
Published in The Nation newspaper on 15-Jan-2016
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