Accountability in PIA

PIA can only be saved if its top management is cleansed of the rot that is destroying it from within. Unless the Federal Government has political will to walk its talk and appoint professionals with integrity, instead of corrupt cronies, this organisation has no hope for survival. Whatever game plan, privatisation or restructuring, it would only achieve objectives if there is transparency. All irregular appointments need to be reviewed. Let a judicial investigation team be set up with full powers.

If an accountability drive can be initiated against brothers of former Gen Kayani and other retired khaki officers for conflicts of interest and gross irregularities in real estate scams, what prevents government from proceeding against serving and former employees of PIA who have robbed this state owned organisation, appointed vendors like Transworld Fze, allowed catering contracts to firms owned by family members of executives and were instrumental in recruiting fake degree holders, selling jobs and adding to its surplus employees individuals with criminal record in violation of merit. Defaults of crores have been conveniently waived by every management.

If Kamran Kayani can be investigated, why not PIA employees such as individuals involved in Kidney Hill land scam and were also in partnership with Sharjeel Memon in various other scams and organised money laundering with vast assets located in Dubai and UK and even managed to get appointed as MD overriding clearance objections by security agencies. An employee submitting fake degree at time of appointment should have been dismissed when this crime was discovered as per rules of corporation. This is a paid job, not an elected office, where stay order can become an excuse for inaction.

It is connivance of administration and top executives which offers them refuge and promotions. A pilot with a history of criminal record, including allegations of heinous charges such as rape, can only manage to survive and get trained to become a B777 captain only with patronage, while others are terminated for lesser offences. How can a fake degree holder become Director Flight Operations during PPP tenure and again get appointed as Hajj Coordinator in 2015? This abuse of PIA is not just confined to PPP, but every government, including PML-N’s and Musharraf’s etc that have held power for the past two decades.

GULL ZAMAN

Peshawar