PAKISTAN Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Wednesday said that the government was finding excuses to sell off the assets of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in order to benefit its front men. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he remarked that the PIA’s permit to fly to the European Union countries was suspended due to the “allegation” of dubious licences hurled by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan against the national flag carrier’s pilots.
Bilawal has raised some pertinent issues that merit serious and merit-based consideration to find the truth about the allegations of fake degree holders or pilots possessing dubious licenses. The issue has caused immeasurable damage and loss to the reputation, credibility and operations of the national flag carrier. Irrespective of genuineness of the allegations, the net result of publicizing of the issue and that too by the government itself has led to grounding of Pakistani pilots by several airlines of the world and suspension of flights and operations of PIA to several destinations. PPP leader has asserted that the authorities had failed to realise that pilots were required to sit an exam and renew their licence every six months and do not necessarily require a degree to operate flights. He stressed that the licence and certification were issued to all pilots by the Civil Aviation Authority. Similarly, his allegations that the Government wanted to privatize the airlines including its profitable property in New York (Roosevelt Hotel) to some blue eyed people. Attempts were also made during tenure of previous governments to dispose of this hotel, which is located in a prime location and its selling had been opposed by all those who think about interests of PIA and the country. This and several other points deserve immediate and transparent investigation to dig out the truth and save PIA from humiliation and embarrassment. A parliamentary or judicial probe with timeline is required.
Bilawal’s assertions
