PAF given one week to respond to citizen’s plea

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has given Pakistan Air Force one week to respond to a petition seeking damages for the death of a civilian in a training aircraft’s crash.

Justice Faisal Kamal Alam heard the petition that seeks Rs290 million in damages from PAF.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the court order was being continuously ignored. A PAF flying officer sought more time to submit a reply saying that their lawyer could not show up.

“You are forcing us to issue strict orders. You have to pay up. There can be no exception. If you compel us, the court will ask for records of PAF’s commercial activities and income,” Justice Alam said while addressing the PAF officer.

The court adjourned the hearing till December 5, giving one week deadline to PAF to submit a reply.

According to the petitioner, a PAF aircraft had crashed on an auto workshop in Yusuf Goth, Baldia Town, in June 2014. An auto mechanic, named Sajid Riasat, and a citizen, named Ali Akbar died in the incident.

Riasat’s mother said that the crash had snatched the sole breadwinner of the family.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2022.