ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and senior vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has demanded action against 262 pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) under the Civil Aviation Rules, 1994.
"The government should not just make statements, but take action. Allegations [of dubious credentials] have been made against the pilots, but action is yet to be taken. That's why the world has doubts over the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)'s capacity as a regulator," Abbasi said, while speaking at a news conference.
He said if an immediate action was not taken to rectify the situation, the major aviation industry could be in serious trouble, and it could also lead to employment of its affiliates, and a loss of billions of rupees in taxes. He also demanded that an inquiry board should be formed, and the accused be provided an opportunity to defend the allegations leveled against them.
He said that the pilots were first punished and they were grounded, prior the proper investigations.
He said more than 50 Pakistani pilots abroad were in touch with him who were qualified and were working in foreign airlines. "They all are worried, as the allegations against the pilots brought a bad name to the country," he said, adding that Pakistan's reputation was in jeopardy.
Abbasi said out of the total 141 pilots mentioned in the list, 26 were not working with the PIA, while two were martyred in the Havelian crash, and six had already retired.
He maintained that the data regarding 29 pilots was incorrect, 10 had challenged it in the court, the status of seven was completely unknown, while there were 18 who had not even gotten their licenses at all as yet.
He said it was being suspected that the remaining 43 were on duty, the same day they appeared for their exams.
Abbasi, who is also a pilot, said the CAA should issue a show-cause notice to these pilots, and give them an opportunity to explain themselves, which is their right. He added that the rules dictate that action should be taken against those found guilty within 30 days.
He said the CAA has the authority to cancel licenses of the guilty pilots, but no license has been revoked so far.
Show-cause notices were issued to 28 pilots many of whom moved the court, he added. He said the licenses have no direct connection with the air crash investigation as the probe is aimed at identifying the causes of accidents to prevent future disasters. "The matter of pilots' licensing purely relates to the CAA and because of the mishandling of this matter, the entire world is now doubting the capability of Pakistan's civil aviation," he added. Abbasi demanded that the government must investigate the matter through due process and take strict action against those found at fault, so that the credibility of Pakistan's civil aviation be restored as soon as possible.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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