For over five decades PIA has provided citizens of Pakistan with a vital passenger and logistic air link. Persistent political intervention, corruption and cronysim have destroyed this vital national asset.
If TSA tasked with security at US airports in post 9/11 era, goes ahead with restrictions to screen at Manchester all cargo and passenger baggage loaded on every PIA flight, this airline’s Trans-Atlantic operation will become unviable. Reports of similar screening in UK and other European airports where PIA flights transit through with baggage loaded from airports in Pakistan will sound the death knell for this airline.
All this damage has been done because our ruling elite want to evade payment of air freight, or contents of unaccompanied baggage. This will involve 6 to 7 hours more ground time alongwith other additional expenses such as parking, loading/unloading etc. While we can blame the US, it would help us if we accept our own criminal negligence that has finally landed us into this mess.
Have we forgotten that in previous tenure of PPP, PIA was reported transporting restricted artifacts on flights to London, without proper manifest, in violation of ICAO laws, for decorating Surrey Mansion.
Even a case was registered against the accused, who in 2009 was appointed as MD of PIA. Recently, scores of heavy cartons were loaded at Heathrow, without any documentation, allegedly belonging to First Lady.
In 2009-2010 onwards, PIA was warned by TSA at JFK for shipping unaccompanied cargo not listed on Load Manifest, with no identification documents viz a viz shippers name, name of recipient, or contents of shipment. In one such incident, after repeated warnings, the local security officer at JFK was caught red handed and detained.
It is also a fact that PIA was strictly warned in writing that any further violations may lead to cancellation of landing rights and other heavy penalties. This cargo either belonged to VIPs, top airline executives, or PIA local staff posted in New York. When these verbal and written warnings were not heeded, TSA has decided to inspect all cargo and baggage at Manchester to prevent any carriage of un-manifested cargo and baggage that can pose a security threat to them.
GULL ZAMAN
Peshawar