The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat expressed its strong displeasure over concerned authority for being unable to initiate any action against former PIA CEO Hildenbrand, a German national, as well as Air Commodore Imran Akhtar Khan for taking PIA aircraft A-130 to Germany which purportedly caused a huge loss to the national exchequer.
The committee also decided to write a letter to the Prime Minister to draw attention towards this issue so that culprits can be penalized without any further delay. The committee met with Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan in the chair here at the Parliament House on Wednesday and discussed calling attention notice regarding the missing aircraft of PIA moved by MNA Aliya Kamran and bills relating to Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and the government job quota for the people of Islamabad, etc.
While briefing the committee, an official of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that the PIA Board of Directors had formed two-member committee to investigate the sale process of Airbus A-130 and other related issues. According to the report of a two-member committee, then CEO to PIA Bernd Hildenbrand and Ex-Director (P&L) Air Commodore Imran Akhtar Kahn were found guilty, he added.
He also said that PPRA rules were violated in the sale process of the aircraft. He said that this process was preceded without the approval of Board of Directors, adding that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also investigating the matter. However, he admitted that the CAA has been unable to take action against serving Air Commodore Imran Akhtar. He said that relevant institution can take action against him. He also said that the name of Hildenbrand was placed at Exit Control List (ECL), but afterwards he was given one-time permission for visiting Germany for 30 days, but he has not returned back so far.
The committee members also asked who gave orders to remove Hildenbrand's name from the ECL and gave him permission to go to Germany. Aliya Kamran said that aircraft is there in Germany and Pakistan is facing charges of its parking rent per day. She said that the A-130 aircraft was also filmed against Palestinians and in favour of Israel, adding that the responsible persons should be severely punished.
An official admitted that the government is facing charges of parking rent of the aircraft. However, he said that the Board of Directors has decided to sell out the parts of aircraft including avionics, power units, landing gear, emergency equipment, wheels and break, etc. The committee further directed that the FIA authorities may be requested to finalize the inquiry report at the earliest to put the culprits behind the bars and report back to the committee within 30 days.
According to the report of two-member committee, the entire sale process was based on mala fide intention as the original tendering process was tampered with to choose a single bidder. The report found Acting CEO Bernd Hildenbrand, Director Procurement and Logistics Department, Air Commodore Imran Akhtar Khan, and technical consultant Helmut Bachhofner guilty of causing a financial loss of over Rs 500 million to the national carrier.
The committee deferred 'The Service Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Government Bill)' and 'The Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2017' moved by MNA Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan till its next meeting for further discussion.
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