A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane prepares to take off at Alama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in this February 1, 2012 file photo. PHOTO: REUTERS
PIA is allegedly being forced to shut down its India operations over its “illegal” purchase of properties in violation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s guidelines.
The properties in question include four flats on the Barakhamba Road in New Delhi, which house the main PIA office in India. Regarding the properties, PIA was served a notice by both RBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, PIA replied to the notice saying that the flats, including the parking lots, were purchased in 2005 as per the Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India) Regulations and that a declaration of the acquisition was filed with RBI within the stipulated 90 days.
PIA Manager in North India Saeed Ahmad Khan told The Hindu that the purchases of four office spaces in Connaught Place in 2005 had received clearances at the time. The airline has been operating from there for nearly a decade.
“We are at a loss to understand why they are acting now, and how we will operate without marketing and sales offices,” Khan said.
PIA has now asked RBI and ED to immediately withdraw their notices "in larger interests of people from both countries'' saying these were hampering its operations in New Delhi.
PIA operates a weekly flight to Lahore and Karachi from Delhi and twice to Karachi from Mumbai. It has had its office in India since 1976. PIA, according to Pakistan, will not give in to any "intimidation" and will not stall operations until it is specifically asked to do so by India.
Pakistani officials have stated that the visa of the PIA chief in India has not been extended and his cellphone has also been disconnected by Indian authorities.
"It reflects a malafide intent to stop PIA operations and cause a blow to people to people contact. If PIA shuts down, people in northern India may still travel to Pakistan through Wagah but it will greatly inconvenience those in other parts of the country," a Pakistan official stated.
The violation of the RBI guidelines seems odd to come up after 10 years of purchase of the flats, according to Pakistani officials. Reports suggest that it may be related to the change in government in India, now led by Narendra Modi.
The first notice to PIA was sent in November 2014. On the contrary, however, Indian government officials said they had nothing to do with the notice.
COMMENTS (56)
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@Jat: Are bahi... what trap? If Sethi has said it then does that mean it is true... he also said that India is behind Baluchistan unrest.. he also said that india indirectly support groups in Waziristan.. by your token.. he must be right... right?
@pakistani: Can you name these editorials in English newspapers… many??
Arre yaar, why are you walking straight into my trap ? Of course I have links to two Sethi's videos and many links to editorials. There have been many here on Express Tribune. Take a deep breath, calm down and think about it.
@Jat: Can you name these editorials in English newspapers... many???
Ok. I have seen many editorials in which Indians hide their national identity.. Beat that now...
@Kamal Yaar: Please read your paragraph again... total haphazard... please go and drink water and sleep
@Bewildered: I have given you the exact reasons why some Pakistanis sometimes try to hide their identity
According to Najam Sethi, Pakistanis hide their real national identity as they are ashamed of being Pakistanis. There are many editorials in your English newspapers that echo views similar to Sethi..
@Bewildered: "@Abdul Malik: @Rahim: Why are you ashamed of using your Indian names?"
While I can understand your concern in the matter, pray what makes you feel the above names are not "Indian"? Does Pakistan has copyright to such names? And lastly, are names Indians or Pakistanis or English too?
@Jat:
"that Pakistanis in the US and Europe hide their true identities and claim themselves to be Indians?"
Yes some do, but only in places where they fear discrimination because of their religion or country, or in places where Muslims are not supposed to be, like in pubs and casinos, though such cases are extremely small. Again not all of them do this, but some do, as I told you just because they either fear discrimination, or ashamed of doing something which their religion do not permit them to do. I haven't seen a single Pakistani claiming to be Indian while going to a mosque or community center. Strangely though, in 1990s I personally came across a drunk Indian Hindu in the UK who was claiming to be from Pakistan (my cousin knew him, and he told me that many Indian Hindus do this just to give a bad name to Pakistanis). I have given you the exact reasons why some Pakistanis sometimes try to hide their identity. Now you tell us why Indian Hindus hide their Indian identity by using Pakistani/Muslim names on this forum, and English names on international forums? What exactly they are ashamed of? Or, they simply try to deceive the readers by masquerading themselves?
PIA Deserves it. Pakistanis must learn to obey laws at-least in other countries.
@Londoner:
"I have come across Indians in my company who would say that they are British and would not disclose that they are from India"
Well, they are indeed British if they are British citizen. Most Indians in Britain are born and brought up in Britain. So, what is wrong in saying they are British? Shouldn't one assimilate with the country they voluntarily immigrated to?
May be that is the problem with Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular that they don't want to assimilate but instead hold on to their religious and Muslim country identities. This causes serious problems of identity crisis often leading to extremism.
The history of PIA makes for interesting reading: - Pilots smuggling drugs. - Staff going AWOL. - Human trafficking. - The list goes on... It is a surprise that PIA is even allowed landing access.
@Pran: stop selling illegal properties
Since no one follows rules in Pakistan, they seem to believe they can do the same outside the country also. The responses on this blog clearly indicate that. Follow the rule of the land. Get rid of those offices and get temporary office space to run your business like thousands of companies from around the world do in New Delhi. Whats the problem with that ?. It seems that these Pakistani executives want to live around the rich and the famous and that is why they have acquired these spaces.
Stop buying illegal properties !! We don't know what those 4 illegal flats are being used for. Why can't Pakistan follow the laws of the land like other carriers do? There is no doubt that there is a trust deficit.
Lol. But some of us still do.. in compulsion @Menon:
Go to sleep @Pandu:
But a lot of Pakistanis have relatives living in India.. @Neutrino:
Should i laugh or be sad at your mentality? @Rahim:
Yes, i second you. Ban all pakistani stuff in india and vice versa. All indian movies n indian channels should also be banned from Pakistan. @Jay M:
@Neutrino: We should stop sending flights to india. Who wants to travel to that begger hole afterall? Just recently a world survey, india prospered by being the most racist country. 1.5 billion racist in that country/dirt hole. We should also stop all ties with india. Afterall we are blamed for the increase in indian population too! . Sir Ji : Your suggestion is fully endorsed by me. I think if we take a Five or Ten Year Break of Non-Trade and Travel between our two Countries then I am sure after this period of say 10 Years the Leaders will realize the benefit or loss from the Closure of Trade and Travel. Then and only then they will come to their senses and we will be able to see that both Countries address the issues which are important to each Country.
@Pakistani in US: Janab. I am not sure which circle do you move in. I have not come across a single educated Pakistani in UK who has tried to hide his identity. On the contrary, I have come across Indians in my company who would say that they are British and would not disclose that they are from India. Just go to the cricket stadium when Pak played against England and you will see many Pakistanis proudly wearing the Pakistani kit. These are some who have hardly been to Pakistan. Same applies to my visit to USA and people celebrating 14 august.
@Jat: Stop quoting Sethi as a source. He's a bigger loon than Modi. Go figure.
@NotThatFast No point in getting angry at Sethi. What he said is true. It is not convenient or safe or useful to identify oneself as Pakistani in the US or Europe. Probably true for the entire world, this includes Muslim countries.
@Bewildered: Well-said! Agree with you 100%! Had there been some genuine reciprocity offered by Modi towards NS' efforts to normalize relationship, the two countries, with their collective wisdom, could have done so much for the good of common man in India and Pakistan in particular, and for the region in general. It's a SHAME, however, that India seems to have been infested with gnats like "Jat" and "Abdul Malik" (who obviously hates Muslims but still adopts Muslim name) -- these half-literate ignorants would rather continue to stew in their own juices than parting with their deep-routed hatred towards Pakistan, and seeing the daylight!
@Jat: That's not True! I live a very social life here in US and never came across such issues. May be the SETHI's own servants do. I'm surprised SETHI found time from robbing taxes from Pak people to say that? SETHI hate Pakis because they know him. SETHI is not a valued Paki himself here. He himself is a tax evader who buying obevroperty after another from the loot money from Pak citizens.
Who gave them money to buy this planes the first question should be this
@Bewildered: Why are you ashamed of using your Indian names?
Why has Najam Sethi claimed so many times on his talk show that Pakistanis in the US and Europe hide their true identities and claim themselves to be Indians ?
@harsh: You missed dengue brigade @jat
Oops... sorry about that !
@Abdul Malik: @Rahim:
Why are you ashamed of using your Indian names?
Dear Pakistanis, not every country works the same way as you are used to. It is done by RBI(Reserve Bank of India) and Enforcement Directorate and not by PM if you guys can understand what they are what they are suppose to do. It is matter of revenues and violation of the RBI guidelines, and things will take its legal course irrespective of hue and cry. Yes, this can be argued why so late, but than it doesn't make PIA immune to legal action if found guilty. So, lets talk sense. PIA will receive enough chance to prove its innocence if it really is.
@Jat: Jat sahib... Power and fuel crisis... We thank you for your interest in our internal matters but please bugger off and stop your obsession with Pakistan... Also what has the fuel crisis to do with this news...
@Jat:
Do you even know the meanings of troll? Please consult the dictionary. I thought Indians only have thick accents but its time to check their wisdom too
You missed dengue brigade @jat
@Jat: polio...very nice bro....see what pakistan ended up in its search for holy reputation...
I'm shocked to learn PIA flies to India. This must be a security nightmare. These flights should be stopped immediately for safety of India.
@Jay M: First sensible suggestion.
I condemn this move by Modi's thugs. However, I don't understand why the Pakistani media cares about this irrelevant news when there is a PETROL CRISIS in the country? What are you doing ET?
@Pity: So cry me a river and go write a letter to US. UN and China.
To all those Pakistanis getting incensed with this news, let me state that law takes its course in India , there may be delays as in this case but ultimately it catches up, if PIA is out of bounds they will have to take remedial action, simple. Finally if PIA does shut down its India operations, it will hugely impact the Pakistani patients who visit India for treatment, just for this reason I think Government of India should let PIA to continue flying to India
I wholeheartedly agree about closing all diplomatic, commercial and people to people contact with Pakistanis. Should start with revoking visas for Pakistani actors to work in Bollywood films, stop medical treatment of Pakistani patients and ban all Pakistani musicians from visiting India and making money. At the same time India should strengthen the fencing along the Indo-Pak border from Gujarat to J&K.
@Rahim: PIA exports terrorist to India…
For sure, among other nasty things like counterfeit currency, heroin and Polio.
Its time the whole world should ban PIA as terrorist Travel in business class and causes havoc and try to impose Sharia in other countries.
PIA exports terrorist to India...
@raider: Look at the first comment my dear Pakistani troll...
where are indian trolls now, seemimgly active on issues relating to india
See...this is what happens when you send them the wrong color saris.
Aman ka tamasha!
Is this so called Democratic india?
Terminate all diplomatic, trade, and travel relations with India immediately, until Modi and his RSS party is in power. You cannot expect civility and decency from malevolent small hearted Saffron terrorists.
India does not deserve to be a part of international community. It does not recognize the UNMOGIP neither does it follow international rules and norms. This news reflects typical Indian mindset toward Pakistan.
Alleged. allegedly. Nice reporting Express Tribune.
I think Pakistan should talk to Hurriyat about this and also write a letter to the UN. They should also blame the foreign hand for the power and fuel crisis.