If only we learn from our mistakes and follies, loss of precious human lives, dignity and honour of Pakistan, which has been seriously eroded by yet another TTP attack at Karachi airport, could have been avoided. It was in May 2011 that within a mile of a civil airport, a terrorist attack on Mehran Base in Karachi shocked this country.
It is time we understand that security should be sole criterion when utilising space in proximity of sensitive installations, civil or military airports and not petty commercial or welfare oriented projects that may feed insatiable greed of few. Have we forgotten terrorist attack at Karachi airport when four terrorists stormed a PN-AM B747 on ground in transit for Frankfurt in 1986 and entry point from where they entered fully armed?
In 2012-2013 a scam was unearthed when it was exposed that for one full year, aircraft of nonscheduled airlines, mostly cargo or charter services, landed and utilised this airport and more than Rs1.5 billion in landing and parking fees were pocketed by corrupt CAA officials and yet even after a year has elapsed, nobody has been held accountable nor revenue deposited. Thousands of irregular appointments without proper scrutiny, or security clearance were made in 2008- 2010 both in CAA and PIA, jeopardising national security interests.
We should have plugged loopholes exposed when serious security breaches took place in recent past. Even today, marriage halls in close proximity to Mehran and PAF Drigh Road located within sensitive zone exist and are functioning. The CAA Pakistan, which should have functioned solely as a regulator. However, blatant conflict of interest becomes visible when it assumes the role of managing and owning various commercial ventures located at airport, which under no circumstances should have been under administrative control of a regulator. Unfortunately as it stands, security stands compromised at the altar of commercialism and profits to be made by real estate and land developers nexus. This trend must be reversed if national dignity is to be secured.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
