Air Blue crash: Victims’ heirs asked to attach indemnity bonds

Counsel informed media that 110 legal heirs of Air Blue crash victims had been compensated with Rs5 million.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday issued instructions to the legal heirs of the Air Blue crash victims to attach indemnity bonds while producing successor certificates for claiming compensation.

PHC Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan issued these instructions while hearing a writ petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) Marvi Memon against the Air Blue administration.

Air Blue’s Counsel Waseem Sajjad and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Senior Law Officer Obaidur Rehman Abbasi were also present at the hearing.  The petitioner’s counsel, along with a number of legal heirs of the crash victims from different cities of the country were present as well.

Sajjad informed media persons that 110 legal heirs of the Air Blue crash victims had been compensated with Rs5 million, while the remaining 43 families would be awarded compensation soon.

CJ Khan ordered that all legal heirs of the plane crash victims should attach indemnity bonds to the successor certificates, so that the amount may be recovered in case of any false claim.

The case was adjourned till September 11. Meanwhile, sources within the CAA told The Express Tribune that the team of international experts investigating the Air Blue crash has requested access to a prior investigation into the crash carried out by a French engine manufacturer. They said the request made to the defence ministry has been approved, adding the experts would soon be given access to the the French company’s investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2012.