IHC seeks AG’s assistance on pilot’s licence case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought the assistance of the attorney general on an application seeking restoration of a pilot to his job accused of holding dubious licence.

The court in its order questioned why the appointment of Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) director general had not been made in the last two years and asked the attorney general to inform it on the matter after seeking directions from the government.

Expressing its concern, the IHC observed that the non-appointment of the director general of an authority, which issued licences to the commercial pilots was a matter of great worry.

Chief Justice of IHC Athar Minallah heard an application filed by pilot Syed Saqlain Akhtar who had been dismissed from job.

 Akhtar had challenged the revocation of his licence and dismissal from job and maintained that the PIA had fired him on July 21 without listening to his stance.

He further said that the CAA had not followed the rules and regulations while revoking his licence.

At the outset of the proceedings, the court expressed its displeasure over the assistant attorney general for keeping the attorney general unaware about his presence in the case.

The court inquired where the attorney general was and noted that the top law official had been called to provide assistance to the court.

“The attorney general was asked to seek directions from the government and inform the court. How is this government functioning? Why has not the DG been appointed in such an important institution (CAA)?” the chief justice asked.

The assistant attorney general said that he could not inform the attorney general about the court’s order and sought a short period of time for the purpose.

The IHC chief justice observed it was a grave issue that the director general of an organisation which issued licences to commercial pilots had not been appointed for the last two years.

The court directed that the attorney general should appear before it for assistance in the matter and adjourned the hearing of the case until September 23.