Passengers prevent top Pakistani politician from boarding flight

The video clip showed that the angry airline passengers held the two leaders responsible for the delay and even questioned them.

"We have taken it for too long... 68 years... are we going to take it for another 68 years?" passengers could be heard saying in the video.

As Rehman Malik approached the jetway that connects the terminal to the aircraft, passengers asked him to apologise for the delay and leave the flight.

"Malik sahab, sorry. You should go back. You should apologise to these passengers. You should be ashamed of yourself... 250 passengers have suffered because of you. It is your fault, sir," a passenger was heard saying.

He said, "Malik sahab, you are not a minister any more. And even if you are, we don't care... anymore."

However, PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar told Dawn.com that the delay in the flight was due to a technical issue and not the fault of Rehman Malik.

“PIA does not promote VIP culture… but this flight was delayed an hour and 30 minutes due to a technical reason,” Tajwar said. “The delay had been conveyed to passengers via SMS. Some passengers who had given the contact details of their travel agent may not have been conveyed the message by their agents.”

He added that the plane took off at 8.55PM. “The flight was not delayed because of Rehman Malik,” Tajwar said. “We are looking into what actually happened but after the delay, the flight departed when it was meant to.”

Defending himself, Rehman Malik tweeted: "I hv right to defend myself agst the allegation.PK370 /1900hr was delayed b/c tech reasons/was expected to leave at 2030. So no delay for me."

"Why am I being linked with PMLN minister.i saw the noise with the minister and decided not to go on the flight as One PTI worker was yelling," he ported.

In another tweet, the top Pakistani politician said: "am now leaving by pk 300 and now in the plane.50 minutes delay has been announced who shd be blamed for  this delay.PIA or me?Obviously PIA"