PIA top official’s absence irks Senate panel

Standing Committee on Aviation hints at passing privilege motion against Air Marshall Arshad Malik

ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Tuesday took strict notice of absence of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshall Arshad Malik and said this behaviour showed disregard not only for the parliamentary committee but was for the parliament.

The Senate’s Standing Committee on Aviation, whose meeting – held in the Parliament House – was chaired by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Mushahidullah Khan hinted at passing a privilege motion against the PIA official should he fail to show up at the next meeting.

Malik has been continuously disregarding the committee without any apparent reason. The official must show sense of responsibility in this regard, the committees said.

The session was attended by senators – Sherry Rehman, Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Samina Saeed, Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Maula Baksh Chandio, Momin Khan Afridi and Faisal Javed – as well as Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Aviation Division secretary and other high officials.

Sherry Rehman, who belongs to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said the PIA CEO must know that he is answerable to the committee. “The CEO did not even intimate the committee about his absence which implies an insult to the parliament,” she said.
Senator Hasil Bizenjo said the CEO would have shown up at the session if he had not been a former employee of the Pakistan Air Force. Maula Baksh Chandio, also from the PPP, expressed anger over the PIA CEO’s absence and lamented that some people have resolved not to respect the parliament.

The panel observed that it was the third time some high official was not showing up despite calls. The committee deferred discussion relating to agenda of the national flag carrier until the next meeting while refusing to take briefing from other PIA officials present at the session.

The secretary aviation assured that the CEO would appear in the next meeting. During the session, the PPP’s Chandio also had a heated exchange of words with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s(PTI) Senator Samina Saeed, who later staged a walk out.

The panel was given a detailed briefing on weather forecasts and warning against floods. Officials of meteorological department said the met department was also giving field forecasting and field warning in addition to providing regular updates on weather situation and matters concerning aviation.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department director general, about 97 met office stations were busy in observation of weather and aviation. He said five met centres were also set up through support of Japan.

“Weather information regarding over 130 cities of the country is available on telephone while the met department is also releasing warnings against heat waves,” he said.