THE investigation team for the tragic May 22 PIA plane crash should probe as to who is to be held responsible for the grant of the permission and no objection certificate for the construction of the high-rise building near the Jinnah International Airport.

Additionally, the Safety Investigation Board (SIB) should also give its findings with regards to the existing marriage halls, banquets and restaurants near the close proximity of the runway and its possible consequences in terms of the probabilities of bird strikes.

The investigation team should also highlight the illegal appointments in PIA and its possible consequences. It is a matter of record that in the year 2019, 10 pilots and 400 other PIA employees were found having fake degrees.

The final report of the SIB should also be made public in the light of Article 19-A of the Constitution, which specifically states that every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance.

Lastly, the family of passengers who died should also seek recovery of damages from PIA by filing suits under the Carriage by Air (International Convention) Act, 1966, Fatal Accidents Act (XIII of 1855) and Civil Aviation Authority Ordinance 2002.

It is appropriate to mention that the section 17 of the Carriage by Air Act 1966 states that the carrier (airline) is liable for damages sustained in the event of the death or wounding of a passenger or any other bodily injury suffered by a passenger, if the accident which caused the damage took place on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations of embarking or disembarking.

Likewise, Section 22 of the Act states that in the carriage of persons the liability of the carrier for each passenger is limited to the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand francs where, in accordance with the law of the court seized of the case, damages may be awarded in the form of periodical payments.

It is notable that the Sindh High Court in the case of Dr Naheed Fatima versus PIA awarded a substantial amount of damages to the family of the passenger who died in the PIA crash on June 10, 2006.

Arsalan Raja

Karachi

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THIS is apropos the report ‘Girl injured on ground when plane crashed loses battle with burns’ (June 2). The youngest of the three siblings working as domestic help, who were injured when the PIA aircraft ploughed into a residential area has died.

Naheeda Khaskheli, aged 13, is no more, while her sisters, Aziza (20) and Mahira (18) are fighting for their lives. The three sisters were busy in chores in the house where there were employed when the airliner crashed into it badly injuring the girls who suffered severe burn injuries.

The painful aspect of this sad tale is that the hapless father is running from pillar to post because the PIA management has failed to take responsibility and offered no financial or medical assistance. The unfortunate father says no financial assistance has been announced nor are they being provided any other sort of assistance.

This apathy of the PIA administration towards this poor family is deplorable. The PIA top management should provide full medical assistance to this unfortunate family.

Tariq Majeed

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2020