NA body to investigate Indus Air ownership

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Defence on Monday took notice of ‘misreporting’ by electronic media on the issue of ownership of Indus Airlines and constituted a sub-committee to probe the issue.
Media has reported repeatedly that President Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur owns the new airline – a claim yet to be contradicted either by the PPP or anyone else.
However, the subcommittee tasked to probe the matter will be chaired by PPP MNA Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, despite the fact that he was being linked by media as being amongst stakeholders for the new airline. The committee also discussed and approved the Airport Security Force (Amendment) Bill, 2011 besides being briefed on the progress of the new Benazir International Airport Islamabad.
The committee was informed the total cost of the project was Rs 63 billion and the first phase had been completed while the second phase will be completed by September this year. The meeting was informed that the world’s fourth biggest construction company, a Chinese organisation, was constructing the airport’s terminal.
It was told the cargo operation could begin in December, 2012 and the main problem faced by the project was a road network being completed by the National Highway Authority (NHA). The committee directed NHA officials to complete the project urgently and put up a summary under PSDP for approval. The committee was briefed on the current status of all airport runways. It was told the CAA was facing problems in moving the heavy machinery from Badin to Mitthi due to a damaged road network for the Thar Airport. The Saidu Sharif Airport operation can begin on a one-week notice. On a request by committee members, the CAA managing director (MD) ensured that two flights to Sehwan Sharif will be available within thirty days,
The committee condemned and took notice of the manhandling by Sindh Police of a PIA official for not delaying a flight for IG Police Sindh on 14/01/2012. The committee decided to discuss the issue on February 3. The committee was briefed on security measures adopted at small airports and the present status of vehicles brought in by foreign dignitaries through small airports in Pakistan.
The committee was chaired by Dr Aira Fazal Peehuho and attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro, Shagufta Sadiq, Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Capt (r) Rai Chulam Mujtaba Khural and other officials concerned.