The government has chosen to end its probe into a contentious statement made by Ghulam Sarwar Khan, a former PTI aviation minister. The statement caused an international ban on flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 2020. The decision is a step toward reviving Pakistan’s aviation industry without drawing unnecessary attention to itself.
In an effort to determine accountability and possible legal action, the ministry of law initially suggested investigating the context and intent of Khan’s comments. Pakistan has been working to repair its aviation reputation, but some in the cabinet are worried that bringing the topic back up might set back their efforts. The United Kingdom and the European Union are currently conducting safety audits, and PIA has just resumed flights to Europe.
The ministers brought attention to the fact that the statement’s impact was allegedly amplified by PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) disagreements. The government has decided against taking legal action and instead appointed a fact-finding group to evaluate the harm done to PIA’s finances and reputation without assigning responsibility.
The Islamabad High Court had previously opted not to step in, placing faith in the administration to address detrimental behavior when required. At this time, the government’s priorities lie in bolstering Pakistan’s aviation sector and preventing any moves that would impede its revival.
