CJP directs Pakistani Airlines’ CEOs to submit report on pilots fake degree

PTI govt initiates inquiry against pilots having fake degree and show-cause notices have been issued to 54 pilots

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and two private airline operators (SereneAir, AirBlue) to appear before the court with complete details of their pilots.  

Taking notice of the fake licences issue of many pilots, the Supreme Court comments that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued fake licences to the pilots through bribes.

The issue of pilots’ fake licences and degrees came up during the hearing of the suo-motu case related to the Covid-19 crisis. A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, was hearing the case.

Over the course of the hearing, the chief justice remarked the entire blame for the last month’s crash of the national airlines’ aircraft near Karachi airport was passed onto pilots and the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

“I was surprised to hear that the 15-year-old plane had no [technical] fault,” he said, adding the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued pilots licences, therefore, it is to blame for the incident and how is the pilot responsible for it.

Justice Gulzar asked the attorney general to explain as to what action should be taken against the CAA, to which the latter replied that action should be taken as per the law. He said the CAA issued licences after taking bribe.

Summoning the heads of the PIA, Serene Air, and Airblue on the next hearing, the bench questioned how and when fake licences were issued to pilots. What action was taken against those involved in issuing such licences, it further asked.

The apex court sought reports based on verification of licences of pilots. It also directed the CAA director general to submit a report on the issue within two weeks’ time.

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreen Insaaf (PTI) government has also started inquiry against pilots having fake degree and show-cause notices have been issued to 54 pilots.

While present Interim Report on PIA incident to National Assembly, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan told NA that there are total 860 pilots in Pakistan and out which 262 were those who did not sit for exams as someone else did that for them.

The minister said that people were inducted on the basis of fake degrees, appointed on political basis, merit was ignored.

Inquiry has been initiated against the fake degree holders and show-cause notices have been issued to 54 pilots.

Some of the pilots have challenged the notices before the court as well. He said nine pilots have so far confessed to have fake degrees.

PIA will not be privatised, the minister said, adding that it will be “restructured”. The government will take it back to its glory days.

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