A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight bound for Islamabad, carrying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and a high-level delegation returning from Saudi Arabia, was diverted to Lahore airport, causing inconvenience to hundreds of passengers, according to a report on Wednesday.
The incident, which occurred shortly after Prime Minister Sharif announced a ban on red carpet treatment at events, symbolizing a departure from VIP culture, raised questions about special treatment. However, a PIA spokesperson assured that VIPs were treated like commercial passengers.
The flight, PK842, with 393 passengers onboard, was scheduled to land in Islamabad at 10:30 pm but was diverted to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and landed at 9:25 pm. This diversion inconvenienced Islamabad-bound passengers, as Prime Minister Sharif and the VIP delegation disembarked in Lahore.
The official Pakistani delegation returning from Saudi Arabia included Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and others, accompanied by their family members. Videos on social media captured passengers expressing frustration while waiting for the VIPs to disembark before the flight continued to Islamabad.
Following the offloading of approximately 79 passengers, the flight departed for Islamabad, landing at Islamabad International Airport at 11:17 pm instead of the original 10:30 pm schedule.
Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia marked his first foreign trip since assuming office last month. The incident has sparked debate about the treatment of VIPs and the inconvenience caused to other passengers, amid efforts to curb VIP culture in public service.
