PM Shehbaz Sharif Demands Inquiry into PIA’s Insensitive Ad

The Pakistani International Airlines, PIA, found itself at the center of a controversy surrounding a social media post that commemorated the airline’s return to flights to Europe after a four-year break. In the controversial post, the airline shared an image of a plane heading towards the Eiffel Tower with the French flag visible in the background. The post has drawn a parallel to the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into the insensitive ad by PIA for the first flight after 4 years to Paris.

Post Criticized for Resemblance to 9/11 Attacks

The post, which was shared on January 10 on PIA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, read, “Paris, we are coming today.” The image showed a plane approaching the Eiffel Tower. Many users were quick to make comparisons to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. This particular crash killing nearly 3,000 people.

Shehbaz Sharif Orders Inquiry

The backlash was swift, with both public and political figures voicing their concerns. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar criticized the post during his address to the upper house of the parliament, referring to it as “stupidity.” Dar also quoted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had ordered an inquiry into the matter. He called for an investigation to identify who conceived the offensive advertisement.

PIA Historic Return to Europe Amid Controversy

Controversy marked the post that PIA did not mind; it managed to resume its flights to Paris as its first flight, PK 749, touched down safely at Charles de Gaulle Airport after four years. Officials of PIA and the Pakistani diaspora waiting at the airport were welcomed.

At the Islamabad airport, officials, including Minister for Defence and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Acting PIA CEO Khurram Mushtaq, were there to send off the passengers in a simple ceremony. This was the first flight of PIA after the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had withdrawn its license for European aviation due to a scandal about the validity of pilots’ licenses.

Prime Minister Sharif ordered the relevant authorities to probe the incident in detail. The post, which has received over 21.2 million views, has outraged the public, with many questioning the airline’s social media messaging for its lack of sensitivity.