A pilot of PIA flew his friend along with him while operating a flight to London without ticket and boarding pass, ignoring all formalities and immigration rules, which shown on local and foreign TV channels. Senator Zahid Khan of Awami National party (ANP), speaking on a point of order drubbed the national flag carrier for making fun of the rules and regulations, putting national dignity at stake.
"This is an insult to the whole nation. Nobody is taking notice of the incident as PIA, once considered to be pride of nation is being misused intentionally by a bunch of scrupulous elite class workers of the flag carrier as its management is being run by an ex captain of the airline," he added.
A passenger flew to a foreign country without fulfilling the required legal formalities without boarding card as he was closely knitted to a pilot who was captain of the said flight, he said, adding that what message we want to give to the international community by resorting to such criminal acts. He demanded of the government to initiate an inquiry against the concerned pilot and refer the case to Senate committee on defence. It is a matter of national pride and dignity and should be dealt according to the law, so that no one dare repeat such happenings in future.
The incident took place on Sunday on board PIA flight PK-787 bound for UK, as Syed Salim Zaidi accompanied his pilot friend Hamid Gardezi to UK on the flight he was marshalling without meeting the laid down procedure necessary for a passenger who is leaving for abroad.This is pertinent to note that the concerned pilot, who committed this blunder, is also serving on a high profile post as principal director Airport Services in Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on deputation. Salim Zaidi, who was taken to UK by the pilot is not an ordinary guy but a former minister, who is currently serving as member CAA.
It is evident from his titles that he is the member of elite class and could flout the law at his own sweet will. It is interesting to note that when FIA and immigration authorities asked him to meet the legal formalities, he casually replied smilingly that these things will be done on my return.The senators said that such incidents depicts weak managerial system and give boost to corrupt practices as people in the higher echelon of the society do not bother to follow the correct and legal course, creating plethora of problems for an ordinary person.Senator Humayun said that the new management of PIA has no vision to run the affairs of the airline on commercially viable basis as the head belongs to flying squad of the national flag carrier. He said that the airlines has failed to improve its standard despite repeated warning by the government it is going from bad to worse with the each a passing day.Humayun lashed out at PIA chairman Captain Ejaz Haroon (Retd), terming him as most inefficient man. This institution must be privatised so that we could be able to get rid of such unscrupulous persons, he added. Simeen Siddiqui said performance of the airline needs to be reviewed on war footing, else the airline is destined to collapse. Chairman Senate Farooq H Naik directed leader of the house Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari to call the defence minister on Tuesday (today) to brief the house about the incident.
