PIA country manager held in Bahrain ‘over misunderstanding’

LAHORE: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Country Manager Awais Hanif has been arrested in Bahrain for allegedly taking away pieces of luggage belonging to passengers.

According to a PIA spokesperson, the airline’s administration is in contact with the Pakistani embassy in Bahrain. The spokesperson said the PIA is closely monitoring the situation from all legal angles and is committed to providing all possible legal assistance to the arrested country manager.

Taking away passengers’ belongings is considered a criminal offence under Bahrain’s airport laws. The issue arose due to the absence of a PIA office at the Bahrain airport, resulting in left-behind luggage being transferred to the central PIA office in the city. From the central office, passengers were contacted, and their luggage was delivered to them.

Bahraini security authorities initiated proceedings, deeming the transfer of luggage from the airport as misconduct. However, the Pakistani embassy in Bahrain declared the matter to be a misunderstanding.

The PIA spokesperson emphasised that while the incident might be a procedural violation, it did not involve any criminal act. The PIA sought the assistance of the Pakistani embassy to provide legal support for the officer in question.

The PIA has also appointed senior officials to defend the case during court proceedings, ensuring robust legal representation for the country manager.