IHC asks AGP to appear before court
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday asked the Attorney General for Pakistan to appear in person on the next hearing regarding the appointment of Director General (DG) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on a permanent basis.
A single bench of Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a petition of Syed Saqlain Akhtar.
The bench after issuing the directions deferred the case until Sep 23 for further proceedings.
In the last hearing, the chief justice had directed the AGP to seek instructions from the federal government, and explain the unreasonable delay in appointing an eligible and competent person on permanent basis as the DG CAA.
He had stated that the learned Attorney General would satisfy this Court that appointment of director general of the Authority on a permanent basis was subject to the process of seeking applications through publication of advertisements.
The bench noted that the Aviation Division failed to give satisfactory explanation to queries raised by the court.
It also could not explain why the matter was delegated to the acting director general CAA, when the Lahore High Court had directed the secretary Aviation Division to consider the objections and pass a speaking order.
The CAA also could not give a satisfactory explanation for failure to appoint an eligible and competent person as director general of the CAA on a permanent basis for the last two years.
He stated that twice advertisements were published but through the process a suitable person could not be identified.
The petitioner has questioned why the secretary Civil Aviation Authority is also holding the additional charge of the DG CAA.
He has also assailed order, dated 14.07.2020, whereby his Airline Transport Pilot License has been revoked.
His counsel further contended that the petitioner was never confronted with any material relating to the alleged use of unfair means to clear the ATPL theoretical knowledge examinations.
He argued that the posts of secretary, Aviation Division and director general, CAA were held by the same person, therefore, the impugned order, dated 14.07.2020 was not sustainable.
