The domestic and international operations of Pakistan's national carrier, PIA were badly hit today after employees went on a snap strike to protest and mourn the killing of Aamir Shah, their union president. Shah, headed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) People's Unity union and was a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.

He was also a former bodyguard to slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and was gunned down with his friend in a drive by shooting in the troubled Gulistan-e-Jauhar area yesterday.

Angry workers held protests at the airport terminals in the country and the snap strike led to disruptions in flight schedules, leaving many passengers stranded at the airports. Geo channel reported that the infuriated activists of the People's Unity forcibly shut the Jinnah Terminal operations in Karachi and the PIA booking office after 8 pm (local time) last night.

This led to a shutdown of the air crews briefing room and the passenger counters at the Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports, which resulted in delays of local and international flights including flights to Dubai, Manchester, London, Dammam and Abu Dhabi.

Scores of flights at Karachi airport are delayed, which included seven international and 10 domestic flights. A PIA spokesperson said that special PIA officials have been called to the airports and the flights were rescheduled for departure today. All the flights were delayed by five to seven hours.

PTI