Fake degrees of pilots: PM Abbasi summoned as ‘airline CEO’ in SC

ISLAMABAD: While hearing a case pertaining to fake degrees of pilots, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday summoned chief executive officers of all Pakistani airlines including Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who is the head of Airblue.

Heading a three-member bench, the chief justice issued notices to heads of all Pakistani airlines saying the matter has been pending for the last four months and reports in this regard have not been submitted as yet. The heads of Pakistan International Airlines, Airblue Limited, Serene Air and Shaheen Air International have been asked to appear before the bench.

The chief justice was informed about the prime minister being also the head of the Airblue. “Isn’t it a matter of clash of interests?,” the CJP asked.

In 2003, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi set up an airline, Air Blue, one of the country’s most successful private airline and challenger to PIA.

During the hearing, Civil Aviation Authority Director Nasir Ali Shah informed the court that the authority has received the reports on pilots’ degrees from Shaheen International Airline and Serene Air today in Karachi, while the report of Airblue was received on Wednesday.

Talking about PIA, Ali Shah said that degrees of 1,972 people were verified while 24 pilots were found to be holding fake degrees.

In January this year, the chief justice had taken notice of alleged appointment of pilots holding fake qualifications. The chief justice had directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to submit a report in this regard.

He had also summoned from the director general of CAA, details of the activities of private planes and jets on the airports of Pakistan during the last fifteen days.

The DG of the civil aviation was asked to submit the report on January 27 at the apex court’s Karachi registry. But the official sought more time to compile the report.