KARACHI, Oct 16: The Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has urged the chief of Pakistan International Airlines to institute a high-level inquiry into allegations about gifts worth millions of rupees having been given to Saudi officials for smooth Haj operations and waivers on fines imposed on several flights during the last Haj season.

In a communication to PIA chief Nadeem Yusufzai, TIP adviser Adil Gilani referred to reports in the media suggesting that PIA’s operations chief for Saudi Arabia Maj (retd) Khurram Mushtaq distributed gifts amounting to over SR337,100 (about Rs10 million) among officials of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, PPMDC and immigrations and customs to get the waiver on fines.

A fine of SR200,000 (about Rs4.8 million) imposed on Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s flight was also waived.

The TIP communication urged the PIA chief to investigate the allegations which, if true, constituted corrupt practices and violation of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 as well as the UNCAC Article 16 (bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organisations).

The UNCAC has been ratified by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The letter says the officials who had approved the ‘gifts’ had committed corruption and corrupt practices and are liable to be tried under Article 10 of the Punishment for Corruption and Corrupt Practices.

According to the TIP communication, PIA cannot decline to disclose the names of recipients of the gifts under exceptions available in PPRA rules, because this exception is meant for procurements related to national security, but Haj operations do not concern national security.