LHC suspends CAA’s notice to another pilot

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday suspended a notice of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under which the licence of the petitioner pilot was cancelled.

Justice Jawad also sought replies from the federal government and the CAA on a petition filed by petitioner pilot Haider Abbas challenging the licence suspension by the CAA.

A few days back, another pilot Umar Saleem had also moved the court against his licence suspension wherein the judge had suspended the notification under which the licence of that pilot had been suspended.

As the proceedings commenced, the petitioner’s lawyer implored the court that the CAA director general, without hearing the petitioner, suspended his client’s licence unlawfully and illegally.

He argued that the CAA DG had also been working as the authority of the appellate forum against the rules. He implored the court that a person who awards punishment could be not able to render his services as an appellate forum.

He requested the court that the CAA notice issued to the petitioner be declared null and void.

In previous proceedings of petitioner Umar Saleem, Justice Jawad had questioned that the licence was issued to the pilot in 2013 and the CAA realised to proceed against the pilot in 2020.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2020.