The Sindh High Court (SHC) had directed the federal government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to submit their replies regarding the incidents of engine malfunction of the ATR aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal form the two-member bench that is hearing a plea by Iqbal Kazmi.
The petition contends that 55 aircraft of the national flag carrier have gotten into different accidents since its inception. Out of those, 20 were ATR aircraft including the unfortunate PK-661 flight that claimed 47 lives including Junaid Jamshed.
According to Iqbal Kazmi, the probe into the PK-661 crash yielded no results. Kazmi also referred to the findings of a CAA inquiry report of the PK-661 crash that shows the negligence by CAA:
Purchasing and operating defective aircraft means nothing but risking the lives of passengers and crew members.
Mother of the captain of flight PK-661 says that her son flew a defective aircraft and did not have any idea about it. The inquiry continues to this day and the cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained. No one has been held accountable for the 47 lives, said the mother.
Justice Mazhar asked PIA and CAA representatives about the exact number of ATR aircraft in operation at the moment. To this, a CAA counsel replied seven ATR aircrafts are operational. All ATR aircraft are issued fitness certificates, the counsel added.
“Why do accidents occur if the certificates are being issued?” Justice Mazhar responded.
Justice Mazhar suggested that individuals responsible for issuing the fitness certificates shall be held responsible for the crashes by the authorities. He further asked about the reasons behind the delay in the publication of the final inquiry report.
CAA’s counsel apprised the court that the federal government is conducting the inquiry and only it can answer about the delay.
PIA’s counsel raised a petty objection on the petition arguing that the plea should be dismissed since it is filed in Urdu instead of English.
Justice Mazhar grilled the PIA’s counsel saying,
You have chosen to object the national language regardless of the fact that you are representing a national agency in the court of law. You should know that the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) had passed a verdict regarding the use of Urdu.
The hearing was adjourned after PIA’s counsel tendered an apology before the court. Representatives of the CAA and PIA have been directed to submit satisfactory replies regarding the incidents of aircraft crashes in the country.
Via: Express Tribune
