SC orders CAA, PIA to take remedial actions

TERENCE J SIGAMONY

ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have been ordered to take immediate remedial actions and show results with regards to the pilots holding fake degree/licenses, and the employees causing damage to the authority and the airline.

The order said; “The CAA is in total shamble[s], where the computers are not safe and the employees are compromised and there is no security system.”

The apex court asked the DG CAA to take practical action and remove persons found in fake pilot licences issue within two weeks. “Don’t fear and don’t spare anyone.” The chief justice asked the DG CAA to register criminal cases and send those to jail whose signatures were on the licenses.

DG CAA Hassan Nasir Jamy told that they had prepared references for the FIA.

He said they had sent the matter to the federal cabinet and after its approval filed the references.

About selling of the PIA assets, the apex court said no one could dispose of the PIA properties including Roosevelt Hotel without the approval of the apex court.

The court directed the Punjab government not to utilise funds allocated for the purchase of vehicle for the provinces in the budget for financial year 2020-2021.

It was also ordered to provide complete list of the vehicles purchased last year (financial year 2019-20) with the amount of Rs5 billion.

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the cases related to the federal and the provincial governments’ steps to combat coronavirus pandemic.

The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the reports of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

 The NDMA asked to file comprehensive report, giving detail of everything, particularly the machinery imported by M/s Al-Hafeez Crystoplast (Pvt) Ltd for the manufacture of N-95 masks in Pakistan, while directed the DRAP to supply relevant information about the import of Remdesivir.

The bench noted that the NDMA had not provided the documents about the machinery imported from China by Al-Hafeez (Pvt) Ltd.

The representative of the NDMA informed that the company itself paid the LC.

The bench said in the last hearing also they had directed the NDMA to provide all the documents, which they have not complied and thus committing contempt.

The chief justice told him that the NDMA has facilitated the company; therefore, it is their responsibility to provide all the documents.

He said till now, the name of owner of the company has not been disclosed, and also not informed that how much customs duty, sale and income tax and regulatory duty was paid.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan said no information was provided about how the duty was assessed, adding no value of the machinery was declared and no invoice was submitted.

The chief justice said, according to the documents supplied, the aircraft charter agreement was between Vision Airways and Al-Hafeez company, and it was agreed that the amount will be paid in US dollar, adding $65,000 were paid on 20-04-20, while $27,000 has to be paid.

The chief justice inquired who paid Rs10.72 million in cash in Karachi to the Vision Airways.

He said if this is done in import of machinery then what could be the situation in other cases.

“It seems that that somebody is trying to cove up, we don’t want this,” he added. “Everything should be done in genuine and transparent manner.”

The chief justice asked attorney general that they (NDMA) favour to one company and some persons. He said this organization (NDMA) may be doing good and it was given free hand and massive amount of funds. They are also answerable to the people.

The chief justice noted that the NDMA was involved in every thing i.e. locust attack, floods and coronavirus pandemic.

However, everything like machinery and chemicals are imported and planes for spray are brought from abroad.

What is their capacity to do all the things and they have to show that they have done, according to the law. “We have seen the capacity of the NDMA representative. His performance before the court is zero.”

The chief justice said the SECP should have the details of the company. The case was adjourned for two weeks.