A partial agreement was signed between Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (Palpa) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Friday to end the gruelling strike against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by the pilots of the national flag carrier. The representatives of the Palpa and the CAA discussed as many as 10 points in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet that met with Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood in the chair.
The Palpa and the CAA agreed on five points out of 10. Palpa president Captain Amir Hashmi and CAA Secretary Muhammad Ali Gardezi signed the agreement. The committee took serious notice of the absence of Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation, Shujaat Azeem and Chairman Pakistan International Airline (PIA) Nasir Jaffer. The committee members staged token walkout from the meeting in protest against their absence.
When asked by the chairman about the absence of the adviser, CAA Secretary Muhammad Ali Gardezi said that he could not come due to personal reasons as he had already informed the committee about it. Senator Talha termed it a joke with the parliamentary panel, saying the government is not serious to resolve the issue, adding that who would sign the agreement in the absence of PIA chairman.
The CAA Secretary informed the committee that Capitan Umer Nazir who is a member of Palpa has emailed to the CAA in which derogatory words were used, adding that he should tender an unconditional apology and withdraw his words. Palpa President Amir Hashmi said they had already apologised in the previous meeting for the email. "Once again, we verbally regret and withdraw the words," he added.
Talha asked the Palpa members to submit a copy of the written apology to the committee but they could not provide it. However, the chairman said that verbal apology by Palpa would be written and be submitted to the CAA. The Palpa members submitted a written apology and withdrawal of the words of email of Captain Umer Nazir unconditionally to the Secretary CAA and its copy was also submitted to the chairman of the committee.
The committee chairman made it clear to the CAA that it would not misuse this written apology for other purposes, otherwise, the committee would take action. After this, the CAA secretary submitted the minutes of previous meeting of negotiations between both stakeholders for discussion in the meeting.
Palpa president said that after yesterday (Thursday) meeting, we sought its minutes but the secretary denied saying whenever the apology was not submitted the minutes were not given to the association. He said the CAA gave these written minutes at this time and we did not read them so far. The PALPA president requested the committee chairman to give 15 minutes to them for reading written minutes. The chairman gave 15 minutes to read the minutes.
After reading the minutes, Palpa President Amir Hashmi said that 10 points written minutes were changed and we have reservations on some points. The Palpa President said while discussing five points that Palpa has given four names - two chief pilots training and two chief pilots planning - to PIA chairman that he should considered them. He said two pilots have been stopped to work for the last four months and he requested the chairman to allow them to perform their duties.
The CAA Secretary said that an inquiry is being conducted about these pilots and the CAA has issued notices to them to appear before the concerned authorities but they failed to appear so far. The Palpa president said the pilots received notices just one day before Eid. The chairman said Palpa should file appeal to the CAA and the authority should decide about them within 15 days.
Palpa Vice President Sadiq Rehan said showcause notice against pilot Sohail Baloch should be withdrawn. The chairman said the Palpa should also file appeal with the CAA in this regard. After discussing the points, both the Palpa and the CAA have agreed on five points while others were deferred till next meeting of the committee. Committee Chairman Senator Talha said Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem has written a letter to him in which he questioned whether the steps of pilots fall under the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) or not. He said he referred the letter to the law minister for legal opinion. He said the minister told him that the actions of pilots do not fall under the PPO. He said he has right of breach of privilege against the advisor.