RAWALPINDI: A Canadian court has adjourned the hearing of a case regarding a member of the PIA cabin crew, who was detained in Toronto for carrying contraband items, until today (Monday).

Sources said that Hina Sani, currently in jail, virtually attended the hearing where her lawyer sought to secure bail for her release. However, the case was adjourned till Monday, sources said.

Ms Sani was apprehended last week after she arrived on a PIA flight to Toronto carrying passports of unrelated persons, an immigration stamp and other contraband items.

After she was formally arrested by the Canadian authorities, her lawyer filed a bail application.

On the other hand, the airline’s management has also brought in the crew scheduler and deputy general manager of flight services, who had authorised Ms Sani’s travel to Canada, into the investigation. The PIA management had earlier suspended Ms Sani and is said to be awaiting the conclusion of the case in Canadian court.

She was detained along with two other crew members who were also on duty with her on PIA flight PK-789. While the two others were later freed, but Hina was kept under surveillance by Canadian authorities, who investigated her for three hours and later formally arrested her.

According to sources, the Canadian authorities finalised the charge-sheet and converted her detention into a formal arrest.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024