ISLAMABAD: “Eight years ago my husband died in a PIA plane crash and a year ago today I lost my son when an ATR of the national flag carrier came down in Havelian,” said the mother of Ahmed Janjua, the pilot of the plane that crashed while coming to Islamabad from Chitral on Dec 7, 2016. All 47 people on board, including five crew members, lost their lives.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, she said her son was not on duty that day but the PIA management directed him to go to Chitral.

“It is unfortunate that I could not get the investigation report on the plane crash in which my husband died. Now I am waiting for the report of the PK-661 crash. Though my son was a pilot I still want to know who was responsible for the crash. Was the plane out of order or there was some other reason,” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks. “I have lost my husband and son but neither the PIA management nor any government official bothered to visit and show solidarity with me,” she said.

Shah Fahad, the brother of Ayesha Usman, another victim, added that December 7th was observed as the International Day of Civil Aviation but the families of those who lost their lives in the plane crash last year had to gather to complain that both the Civil Aviation Division and the PIA management had ignored them.

Civil Aviation Division and PIA management criticised for ignoring heirs of those who lost their lives

“Just after the incident, the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the establishment of an investigation team. The team never bothered to interview the family members. On the other hand, rather than paying the insurance amount to the heirs, the families were forced to go from different cities to Chitral, then Islamabad, Havelian and back to collect different documents,” he said.

“A number of families have provided succession certificates to the PIA but the amount is not being released. The families are suffering as they have lost their breadwinners but it seems some elements are delaying the payment as they are getting profit/interest on the insurance amount,” he alleged.

Mr Fahad said those who had received the compensation were forced to submit a declaration that they would not take legal action against the PIA. Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi on the occasion announced that he would provide legal help to the families. He said the amount of compensation should be in accordance with the international standards.

“Not only the compensation has not been paid to around 20 families of the victims but the PIA is also not willing to hand over the DNA test reports to the heirs.”

Rights activist Jibran Nasir said so far 750 passengers had lost their lives in different crashes of PIA planes.

“Initially we heard that the crew of PIA was poisoned. After that another rumour started doing the round that one engine of the ATR was out of order. On the other hand, it has become a routine that investigation reports are not made public,” he said.

Another rights activist Ehtisham Abbasi said on December 5 a passenger while travelling from Karachi to Sukkur in a PIA plane saw some fluid leaking from the aircraft and informed the pilot. He also made a video of the leakage but the PIA staff misbehaved with him and alleged that he wanted to get fame by sharing the video on the social media.

A large number of family members of the victims were present during the press conference. They demanded the government make the investigation report public without further delay.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2017