IHC takes CAA to task over non-submission of PIA plane crash report

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday expressed annoyance over the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for failing to submit a probe report on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash near Havelian in 2016.

A bench of the high court comprising Justice Aamir Farooq was hearing a petition filed by the mother of Mansoor Janjua, co-pilot of the ill-fated flight, seeking a judicial probe into the incident.

The PIA plane (PK-661) with 48 people, including noted figure Junaid Jamshed, his wife and Deputy Commissioner Chitral Osama Warraich, on board had crashed in Saddha Batolni village near Havelian.

The petitioner’s lawyer complained that the PIA flight crashed en route to Islamabad from Chitral on December 7, 2016, but no commission was formed to determine the cause of the incident.

Justice Aamir Farooq questioned if a probe was conducted or what conclusion did investigators reach?

A CAA lawyer informed that the federal government had ordered a probe into the incident. The probe has been completed but its report awaits signature of the relevant authority, he added.

“Should I wait until my retirement then you will present the report,” he remarked while expressing displeasure over non-submission of the report. “Unfortunately, no one cares about precious lives in Pakistan.”

He lamented over the inefficiency of the inquiry committee for not reaching a conclusion about the incident that occurred two years ago.

The CAA lawyer requested the judge to grant more time for submitting the above-mentioned report.

Justice Farooq censured the government for not issuing directives for a swift investigation into the incident. “There is a tradition of hiding everything in the country,” he remarked.

The hearing was adjourned till February 7.