Emirates, Etihad and Pakistan International airlines say they will continue regular flights to Islamabad despite an airport bomb threat yesterday. The airlines said any further disruption in Pakistan could curtail service, but that for now travellers going to Pakistan for Eid al Fitr celebrations were assured of flights. Emirates and Etihad airlines said they would maintain their schedule and Pakistan International Airlines said it had four additional flights to Pakistan on Monday and Tuesday and would not cancel them.
British Airways cancelled its flights to Pakistan indefinitely after the bomb attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, in which 53 people died. Authorities in Pakistan said yesterday that they had received a specific threat that a suicide bomber would attack the Islamabad airport. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Embassy in the UAE was preparing for a private visit from Asif Ali Zardari, the newly elected president of Pakistan.
Mian Munir Hans, president of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the UAE, said Mr Zardari would bring some stability to Pakistan. "This violence has been a problem for the last eight years but now comes a new democracy," he said. "Inshallah you will see change, more control and peace with the new government." asafdar@thenational.ae
