THIS is apropos of Syed Masood Hassan’s letter ‘Bhoja Air: ban on selling of assets’ (Aug 2). The step taken by the CAA surely appears to be a pragmatic one towards safeguarding interests of the victims’ families.

However, negative affects of such an extreme coercive action needs to be prudently weighed to see that the purpose of this apparently wise action is not converted into mischief.

In aviation practices, support equipment and aircraft are the commodities that are profitable only when these are operational and flying.

These become liability once these are grounded. Parked aircraft have a price that needs to be incurred every day. Otherwise, these become scrap and unserviceable in days.

While it is a good attempt to twist the arms of Bhoja Air management, at the same time there is a dire need that both parties act with responsibility and sit together to negotiate a productive outcome that serves the interest of everybody, including the bereaved families.

A standoff of longer duration is bound to be a harmful and unproductive exercise and the victims’ families shall be the ultimate casualty.

It is now for the Bhoja Air management to come up to the expectations of the victims’ families and meet their obligation of ‘corporate social responsibility’ and help them to receive their ‘no fault liability’ claims as soon as possible.

There must be a one-window arrangement for the victims’ families and they should not be left at the mercy of discompassionate persons outside the Bhoja premises.

It is a basic liability of the carrier to ensure prompt and trouble-free payment of compensation through a one-window operation without compelling the families to sign undisclosed documents to serve hidden interests of component manufacturers and manufacturers of the ill-fated Boeing aircraft.

For the Bhoja Air management, this is one accident that has brought a disaster for them. However, they should not give up and must make this tragedy an opportunity for success.

The show must go on. Facing the thoughtlessly framed criminal charges is an unwarranted enigma for the CEO of Bhoja and it seems to be the biggest barrier in his way. But he must have faith in the judicial system of the country.

Doubtlessly, criminalising an air crash accident is very rare in aviation history, but it is certain that he would be exonerated once his belief in the country’s legal system is established.

Dr. ABDUL RAZZAQ (A Fokker crash affecttee) Karachi