Lahore: An Islamabad-bound PIA flight carrying Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz and a high-level delegation back from their visit to Saudi Arabia was diverted to Lahore airport, causing inconvenience to hundreds of other passengers, according to a media report.
The incident came close on the heels of the PM declaring a ban on the red carpet at events in his favour, which earned accolades for signalling a shift towards eradicating the VIP culture.
Quoting a PIA spokesperson, the Dawn newspaper reported that the Pakistan International Airlines flight PK842, carrying 393 passengers, which was supposed to land in Islamabad was diverted to Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, the report said.
The PM, Punjab CM and other VIPs disembarked at Lahore, which caused inconvenience to hundreds of other Islamabad-bound passengers, the report said. Official sources said that apart from Sharif and Maryam, the delegation included defence minister Khawaja Asif and others, along with their family members.
Videos circulating on social media showed passengers expressing their anger, but they had no other option but to wait until the VIPs disembarked before continuing their journey to Islamabad.
After offloading about 79 passengers, the flight eventually took off for Islamabad and landed at the Islamabad International Airport.
