ISLAMABAD:The government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has opted to discontinue an inquiry into former PTI aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s parliamentary remarks, which resulted in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) facing flight restrictions in multiple countries.
Initially, the law ministry proposed an investigation to determine the motivations and consequences of Khan’s statement, with the intent to establish accountability and pursue legal measures. However, sources indicate that the government has directed the fact-finding committee to focus solely on assessing financial and reputational damages rather than initiating legal proceedings, in an effort to avoid heightened international scrutiny.
During a recent cabinet meeting, some ministers voiced concerns over the implications of the former minister’s comments. They argued that the claims made were exaggerated due to internal conflicts between PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
It was further noted that revisiting the issue could be counterproductive, especially as Pakistan’s aviation sector is striving for recovery. With PIA flights to Europe resuming and ongoing aviation safety audits by both the UK and the European Union, any renewed controversy could hinder progress in lifting the ban.
Given these factors, the committee was advised to limit its inquiry to evaluating financial losses and reputational setbacks rather than pursuing legal action, which could attract unwanted international attention.
The cabinet was informed that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had previously reviewed a petition from an individual alleging that Khan’s statement had tarnished PIA’s reputation. The petitioner sought his disqualification from the National Assembly. However, the IHC declined to intervene, emphasizing that it trusted the prime minister and cabinet to take action against any minister or official found responsible for harming national interests or damaging the reputation of professional pilots and the national airline.
In response to the court’s observations, the cabinet refrained from taking direct action against Khan. Instead, the law ministry suggested forming a fact-finding committee to analyze the circumstances surrounding his statement, quantify the financial impact on the national exchequer, and assess the broader reputational damage.
The committee’s mandate also included reviewing potential legal avenues and determining responsibility. A detailed briefing was presented to the cabinet by the Law and Justice Division, outlining a structured approach to investigating the 2020 statement regarding PIA pilots.
