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A video showing angry Pakistan airline passengers preventing former Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, from boarding a domestic flight after he allegedly delayed the departure for over two hours, has gone viral adding fuel to the ongoing Pakistan protests.

Has Rehman Malik become so big for you, has he become God that you have delayed a plane carrying 150 people. How long will we put up with this nonsense in this country? We've taken it for 68 years, we're not taking it anymore.
- Pakistan International Airlines passenger

The Pakistan International Airline (PIA) that was Islamabad-bound from Karachi took off nearly two hours late on Monday, allegedly due to the late arrival of two politicians, including Malik.

In the video that has now gone viral in Pakistan and amongst Pakistanis overseas, passengers are seen waiting for Malik at the door of the plane.

A passenger is heard saying: "Has Rehman Malik become so big for you, has he become God that you have delayed a plane carrying 150 people. How long will we put up with this nonsense in this country? We've taken it for 68 years, we're not taking it anymore."

As Malik walks towards the plane entrance, a passenger shouts at him saying:

"Malik Sahab (Sir), you should go back. You should apologise to these passengers. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're not a minister anymore and even if you were we don't care anymore. You people have to become humans. You have to get down to the ground.

"Close the door and fly the plane to Islamabad. Rehman Malik has been off loaded."

Since the video leaked online, the nation has been revitalized with an added zest of patriotism.

Pakistanis are calling this the beginning of a new Pakistan, hailing Cricketer-turned politician and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, who started the Azadi (freedom) March on 14 August, Pakistan's Independence Day, with a mission for Naya (new) Pakistan, free of corruption.

In response, Malik took to his official Twitter and Facebook accounts to clarify the incident.

Imran Ali, Spokesperson to Senator Malik, in a press release posted on his Facebook account today (16 September) stated:

"PIA through their official Spokesperson issued a press statement that the delay was not caused because of the Senator A. Rehman Malik but it was due to technical fault. According to the Civil Aviation Rules, videos cannot be made at airport vicinity ... Senator A. Rehman Malik reserves the right to sue all the persons / violators involved in this vilification campaign."

Meanwhile, PIA suspended the shift manager, Nadeem, and terminal manager, Shehzad, after the video went viral, reported the Express Tribune.

Pakistan