Karachi airport handed over to CAA, open for operations

Published June 9, 2014
Policemen show seized weapons after militants attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on June 9, 2014. — Photo by AFP
Policemen show seized weapons after militants attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on June 9, 2014. — Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Karachi airport has been reopened for passengers and all flight operations, said Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa.

Earlier on Sunday, a five-hour attack by militants on the international airport in Karachi left at least 28 dead, including ten terrorists.

The attack was claimed by banned militant organisation Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"Karachi airport has been cleared and handed over to Civil Aviation Authority and the Airport Security Force," Major Asim said while speaking to Dawn.com.

Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume its flight operation by 4 pm Monday afternoon after security clearance, a spokesman of the national flag carrier told APP on phone.

“Four PIA employees were martyred in the terrorist attack,” he said. They were identified as Farrukh Leghari, S.M. Ilyas, Fazal Zubairi and Tanvir A. Khan, he added.

A report on the Karachi airport attack, which was presented to Prime Minister Sharif on Monday, revealed that terrorists wanted to destroy all the aircraft.

It also disclosed that terrorists had entered the airport from two separate locations.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz on Aviation Shujaat Azeem had said that the Karachi airport would be made operational at 4 pm today.

He moreover said that security was heightened at all the airports.

Meanwhile, the CAA spokesman had said that air traffic control operations and other activities would also be resumed with the revival of normal flight operations.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif had ordered authorities to reopen the Karachi airport for public as soon as possible.

He also directed the CAA to facilitate the passengers in every possible manner.

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