Pilots association to approach SHC

LAHORE: The General Secretary of the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (Palpa) has said that they will approach the Sindh High Court against the implementation of the Essential Services Management Act 1952 (ESMA).

The association says ESMA is a constant pressure on the pilots.

Meanwhile, the General Manager Public Affairs PIA, Sultan Hassan, said that flights are operating as per schedule since the implementation of the act on the corporate crew by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on August 28.

According to sources, due to the fear of expected action under ESMA, Palpa has ended its go slow policy, something the association denies it was practicing.

Aviation sources say that PIA suffered billions of rupees of losses due to the ‘go slow’ policy and many domestic and international flights were cancelled.

This is the third time ESMA has been applied to the PIA. In 1997 and 2001 too, the act was applied was applied. However, this time it is only applicable to the corporate crew, including the pilots, and is for the duration of six months.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Hassan said that flights have not been canceled or delayed after the implementation of ESMA and the flight operation is going smoothly.

Hassan said that in the present scenario, the management has power to hold an inquiry against the corporate crew, including pilots, if they disturb the routine flight schedule.

He said that the guilty staffers will have to prove their innocence and in case they can’t, they will be penalised with fines, departmental action or one year imprisonment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2010.