Pakistan leading English Newspaper The News has reported that on April 9, the Pakistan International Airlines has flown members of a federal minister family from London to Islamabad. But sources in PIA say that passengers were not flown on any reference. It is important to note that PIA has refused to take any passengers stranded in Britain because of the coronavirus pandemic back to Pakistan.
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When we contacted our sources in PIA we were told that 175 passengers travelled on the flight that was flown on 8th April, not 9th. And it was flown on AP-BID that went to Heathrow same day from Islamabad. The source also said that the flight was open for all and “175 passengers were accommodated because of inbound restrictions.”
But according to The News correspondent Murtaza Ali Shah special arrangements were made for the dignitaries including three family members of a government minister. According to Murtaza the total number of people flown back from the UK was 150 on the specific flight that according to data was flown by AP-BGJ.
The flight in question was PK786 from London Heathrow to Islamabad. The flight took off from Heathrow 21:35 two hours 30 minutes behind schedule and landed at Islamabad airport on 9th April two hours late at 8:55.