ISLAMABAD: The 172 passengers on board a PIA Boeing 777 aircraft that was impounded in Malaysia on Friday will be returning to Pakistan via Emirates and Qatar Airways flights on Saturday and Sunday respectively, a statement from the national carrier said.
On Friday, the Pakistan International Airlines plane was held back in Malaysia following a court order, the airline said, adding that the case involved a $14 million lease dispute underway in a British court.

Pakistan鈥檚 foreign office issued a statement on Friday saying its diplomatic mission in Malaysia was in close contact with relevant authorities over the detained plane and its stranded passengers. 
鈥淧IA鈥檚 Kuala Lumpur flight鈥檚 passengers will reach Islamabad in the evening today (Saturday),鈥� the PIA handout said, and added the PIA ground staff in Dubai and Doha were ensuring the stranded passengers were well taken care of.
Earlier, spokesman for the national carrier, Abdullah Khan, said the situation was 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� and that the airline鈥檚 legal team would pursue the matter with Pakistan鈥檚 official and diplomatic assistance. 

On Friday evening, Malaysia鈥檚 state news agency, Bernama, said the country鈥檚 Transport Ministry had opted to refrain from commenting on the impounded plane.
鈥淚t was reported that the Boeing 777 aircraft was seized after a court order and alternative arrangements were being made for passengers due to fly back to Pakistan,鈥� the statement said.