ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) director general to file a report about pilots holding fake flying licenses. The DG CAA, chief executive officers (CEOs) of the Pakistan International Airlines, Air Blue and Serene Air were ordered to appear in person, and file reports about pilots holding fake degrees, and flying licenses in two weeks.
"These pilots fly the passenger planes, which is a matter of great concern and serious offence under the law." "We are amazed that pilots holding fake licenses are flying planes including passenger and commercial," the CJP said.
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, while speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, had said the initial report of the PIA plane crash found the pilots and air traffic control (ATC) officials to be at fault for not following set procedures.
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the suo moto on the federal and the provincial governments' steps to combat Covid-19. The bench restrained the Sindh government from spending Rs4 billion which it has allocated in the provincial budget 2020-21 for purchasing luxury vehicles for government servants.
The chief justice observed, why instead of using funds for development projects such as water, electricity, infrastructure, health and education Rs4 billion were allocated for purchasing expensive vehicles for the government servants.
The advocate generals of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan said their governments had not allocated funds for purchasing vehicles. The bench criticised the federal government for non-transparency, and failing to provide basic needs to the citizens.
The chief justice said the social contract (Constitution) means give and take. "However, we are not complying [with] the agreement (social contract)." He said, "People in hope of seeing the fruit of constitution have become old."
The bench raised the question over the working of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) regarding controlling the COVID-19, and locusts. The chief justice said the authority was spending funds left and right without oversight. "Whole Pakistan is handed over to the NDMA," the CJP remarked.
Justice Gulzar said the NDMA was importing Remdesivir, which was used for the treatment of COVID-19. Are these medicines provided to public sector hospitals? Are medicines being used in government hospitals under the supervision of doctors?
The attorney general told the court that the NDMA was audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan. The NDMA is facilitating the procurement of medicines.
On this, the chief justice said the import of medicines should be done with the approval of the DRAP. He noted that the NDMA had sought approval from the DRAP for the import of 7,000 vials of Remdesivir. However, the DRAP gave approval with certain conditions.
The bench noted that no material was submitted regarding fulfilling of conditions by the NDMA. The Court directed the NDMA to provide detail about the import of machinery by M/s Al-Hafeez and DESTO Company for manufacturing of N-95 masks.
It asked the NDMA representative to supply the airways bill, value of machine, whether the tax and duty paid, and for whom they manufacture N-95 masks.
The court expressed concern over why the NDMA chartered a plane for importing machinery from China for producing the Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs). The chief justice questioned whether the facilitation of importing machinery was provided to other companies as well?
The bench noted that the NDMA favoured the company for importing the machinery. The NDMA was asked to explain why special favour was given to one company. Justice Gulzar said no individual should get favour. "The owner of the company will become a billionaire in two days. Don't know what happened to the rest of the people and companies?"
The chief justice said corona made people billionaires overnight. "Don't know who are the partners of this company? The government has not done such a favour to any company. The work was done by the owner of the company sitting at home."
The Chief Justice said the fate of the country would change, if other sectors also get such facility. "How much did the machinery cost? How was the LC opened?" The CJP asked, if the government had to provide facility to businessmen then an advertisement should be placed in the newspaper.
He remarked that if the government did so, an industrial revolution would take place in the country. The chief justice asked where Pakistanis from the Middle East would be fed and provided jobs. Should they go wherever they want after 14 days in quarantine? Between 50,000 and 100,000 workers are returning from the Middle East.
The chief justice remarked that people are graduating from educational institutes, what is the way to feed them? It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. What if the government has an economic policy?
Justice Gulzar asked what is the future vision of the government? How the govt will solve the problems of the people? Is there a consensus in Parliament on public issues? He said the rhetoric on TV would not fill the stomachs of the people.
The people need food, petrol, education, health and employment. The prime minister says that the chief minister of a province is a dictator, what will give the explanation?
Justice Gulzar said the entire government could not be held hostage by 20 people. "If the government has any desire, no one can stop the government. The government should take action according to the law in every work."
The chief justice asked 16 million tons of wheat was stolen from Sindh, what happened to it?
On this, the attorney general said the problem of locust at heart is a provincial one and they are helping to eradicate it. The case was adjourned for three weeks.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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