Report on PIA jet crash based on assumptions: CAA

ATR aircraft, which crashed near Havelian, was inspected eight times between Aug 2015 and Nov 2016, court told

KARACHI:

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board's (AAIB's) report on the December 2016 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash near Havelian is based on assumptions and overlooks multiple technical details, stated a report submitted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the Sindh High Court on Thursday.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, was presented the report during the hearing of a plea pertaining to the plane crash near Havelian.

According to the report, the ATR 42-500 aircraft, which nosedived in Abbottabad in 2016, resulting in 47 fatalities, had been inspected eight times between August 2015 and November 2016.

Moreover, all ATR aircraft were grounded following the crash due to noncompliance with some regulations, and since then, ATR aircraft belonging to the national flag carrier have been inspected 56 times, the report states.

As CAA officials presented the report during the hearing, Justice Mazhar was irked by the manner the report was submitted.

"You can at least compile it in a file," rebuked the judge, emphasising that any documents should be submitted in accordance with the court's convention.

The court directed the parties to submit counter replies on the CAA's report, besides seeking the petitioner's reply on documents submitted by the PIA. Further ordering the CAA technical director and other officials to ensure attendance at the next hearing, the court adjourned hearing till January 18, citing the petitioner's absence.

Arts Council elections

The same bench directed the South deputy commissioner to make arrangements for Arts Council elections to be conducted in a transparent manner and provide foolproof security for the polls.

It issued the directive after the petitioners, who filed a plea in connection with elections at Arts Council, contended that measures, including biometric voting, were needed to ensure transparent polls.

They further called for the deployment of female cops on the day of the election. The court, however, rejected the petitioners' request for biometric voting and ordered foolproof security for the polls. It further directed the industries department secretary and South deputy commissioner to monitor the elections, making sure that they were conducted in a transparent manner.

Issuing these directives, the court disposed of the plea. Arts Council elections are scheduled to take place on December 20.

Missing persons' cases

Separately, the court issued notices to the Sindh home department, Rangers director general (DG), Sindh IGP and others on multiple petitions seeking missing persons' recovery.

One of the petitioners, Ashfaq Jahan, told the court that some persons, in plain clothes, forcibly entered his house and took away his son, Iftikhar. "The police are not cooperating with me [in recovering my son]," he complained, praying that a case be registered for his son's disappearance.

At this, the court directed the Shah Faisal Town SHO to register a case for Iftikhar's disappearance.

It also issued notices to the Sindh home department, Rangers DG, Sindh IGP and others on pleas seeking the recovery of missing persons, including Iftikhar, seeking the parties' replies on the petitions at the next hearing.

Further ordering the missing persons' recovery, the court sought a progress report from the relevant authorities on the matter on January 2.