Plane hijackers send an ultimatum to Pakistan

March 11, 1981

The gunmen holding more than 100 hostages in the nine-day-old hijacking of a Pakistani airliner sent an ultimatum to Pakistan's military rulers Tuesday. The Islamabad government said the hijackers had given it until Wednesday morning to meet their demands or they would take "drastic action." The gunmen have threatened previously to blow up the plane and kill their hostages. They have already slain one, a Pakistani diplomat.

The Pakistan defense secretary said the hijackers were now demanding the release of all political prisoner s in Pakistan.