On this day, 2 February 2016, Pakistani paramilitary Rangers force opened fire in a crackdown on an anti-privatisation rally by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) workers killing two and injuring eight outside Jinnah International Airport Karachi. The protests erupted after the government imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act that would empower the management to penalise striking workers and force them back to work, after the workers’ talks with government collapsed. The violence came as hundreds of airline employees held a series of protests against government’s plan to privatise PIA that was required by an International Monetary Fund economic bailout package. The incident brought the airline to a standstill for the next few weeks and resulted in the privatisation being delayed by 6 months. https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1644087425776401/?type=3
