ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday criticised the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for failing to submit a report on a plane crash in Havelian in 2016.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-661 crashed near Havelian in 2016 killing 48 individuals, including celebrity Junaid Jamshed and Chitral deputy commissioner Osama Warraich.
The IHC expressed its disapproval as it heard a petition urging for a judicial investigation into the accident. The petition was filed by the mother of the co-pilot Mansoor Janjua.
According to the petitioner’s lawyer, no commission was formed to investigate the causes of the crash.
In response, Justice Aamir Farooq of the IHC inquired from CAA if an investigation was conducted and what it revealed.
The CAA’s legal representative informed the court that while a probe over the matter was indeed conducted, its report has not yet been published. He explained that the relevant authority has to approve the report before publishing it.
“Should I wait until my retirement then you will present the report,” Justice Farooq remarked in response.
He added that two years have elapsed since the incident but its causes have still not been revealed.
CAA’s legal counsel then requested the court to give the authority time to submit its report.
The IHC judge remarked that the government should have directed relevant authorities to conduct an investigation into the issue.
The case was then adjourned till February 7.
