Justice delayed: IHC forms commission to probe Bhoja Air crash

The respondents have failed to submit replies.


Our Correspondent June 13, 2013
Debris of Bhoja Air plane. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:


Victims’ families of the Bhoja Air crash in April last year may get justice after all as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) constituted a commission to examine the incident on Wednesday.


Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui while hearing a petition, filed by the victims’ families seeking an independent inquiry, has constituted a one-member commission headed by Justice (retd) Khalilur Rehman Ramday. Four retired officials from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will assist the commission to probe the incident. They are expected to finish their investigation in three months.

On April 20, 2012, Bhoja Air flight 213 crashed in the outskirts of Islamabad killing all 127 passengers and crew members onboard. The case has been pending in IHC since September of last year. On May 25, 2013, Justice Siddiqui issued notices to the Bhoja management, the capital’s police chief, the Capital Development Authority chief, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences administrator and director generals of CAA and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to appear on June 12.

On Wednesday, when the court resumed the case’s hearing, it was informed that the respondents have failed to submit replies. Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri informed the court that only the NDMA and Islamabad police have submitted replies. He further informed the court that reminders were sent to all the respondents but they had still not complied.

The court directed the Bhoja management to bear all expenses of the commission, however, the court is yet to decide the amount of the expenses. Talking to Express Tribune, a court official said that the venue and timing of the commission will be decided later in a detailed order.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2013.

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