ISLAMABAD : The European Union has allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate flights to and from Europe till July 3, confirmed the national flag carrier’s spokesperson on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said that all PIA flights to and from Islamabad to London, PK785 and PK 786 will operate as per schedule. An announcement with regard to other flights will be made soon, stated the PIA spokesperson.

He confirmed that the PIA administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistani diplomats were in constant contact with European authorities over the matter.

The spokesperson added that the foreign secretary had contacted European diplomats on an urgent basis after which the national flag carrier was allowed to land in Britain, Europe and fly over them as well.

PIA flights to Europe suspended for six months by air safety agency

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had suspended PIA’s air operations permit for a period of six months, the national carrier’s spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan had said on Tuesday.

He had said that the suspension will take effect from July 1, at 12 noon UTC time.

“Those who have a PIA booking can move the date forward or get a refund,” the spokesperson had said.

The EASA had told PIA “it is still not sure” if all the remaining pilots are properly qualified, “and thus they have lost their confidence” in the airline, the spokesperson told.

“PIA is in constant contact with the agency,” he had said, adding: “We are taking steps to address their concerns.”

“It is hoped that the suspension will end soon due to the [remedial] steps taken by the government and the administration.”

UK aviation industry suspends Pakistani flights from three airports

The UK Civil Aviation Agency had also suspended Pakistan International Airlines flight operations from three airports — Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester on Tuesday.

The move followed the decision by the EASA to suspend PIA’s air operations permit for a period of six months.

It comes after the grounding of 262 Pakistani pilots whose licences aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan termed “dubious”.

A spokesperson for the UK authority told Geo.tv: “Following the decision on June 30, 2020, by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to suspend permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate services to the European Union, PIA flights from Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester airports are suspended with immediate effect.

“The UK Civil Aviation Authority is required under law to withdraw PIA’s permit to operate to the UK pending EASA’s restoration of their approval that it meets international air safety standards.”

UK consumers intending to travel via PIA flights from either of these airports have been advised to follow instructions provided here.

About the ban by the European authority, the airline’s spokesperson had said that the PIA was dedicated to implement new confidence building measures and would try to get this decision reversed as soon as possible.

As far as the same development in the UK was concerned, the spokesperson said he had not received official correspondence.

Rawalpindi : A young boy was martyred by unprovoked aggression by the Indian Army in the Lipa Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) late last night (Tuesday) said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ISPR said that the Indian Army had resorted to indiscriminate firing that targeted the civilian population in the sector, which resulted in the martyrdom of a young boy.

Pakistan Army responded effectively to Indian firing targeting those posts which initiated fire.

“Indian troops unprovoked ceasefire violation targeting civil population used  Artillery, Mortars and heavy weapons,” the press release added.

LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Wednesday exempted former chief minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif from appearing in the hearing and directed him to remain present in the next hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

Accountability Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry adjourned further hearing of the case till August 06.

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz Sharif was present in the hearing.Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif’s counsel Amjad Pervaiz submitted a plea of his client seeking exemption from the case hearing today.

The counsel said that his client was infected of coronavirus and has quarantined himself at his home. He could not appear in the court due to symptoms of the disease. “The Lahore High Court has also exempted him from appearing in the case hearing.”

The counsel informed the judge that Shehbaz Sharif’s coronavirus test will be held on July 02, the high court has also demanded his coronavirus test report on July 07.

According to doctors, a coronavirus patient could be declared recuperated after two back up tests, which report the infected person clear of the disease.

The NAB has filed a reference accusing former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz and others for causing losses to the national exchequer and misusing authority by sanctioning construction of a bridge to facilitate the sugar mills.

NAB officials say Shahbaz Sharif, being chief minister of Punjab, misused his authority by issuing directives for the construction of a 10-kilometer-long drain in Chiniot primarily to benefit the sugar mill owned by his sons. Shehbaz and Hamza have been accused of fraudulently causing a Rs 213 million loss to the national exchequer.

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that India can sabotage regional peace to divert attention from its internal failures.

Talking to Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan in Islamabad, he said Pakistan has been continuously apprising the global community about peace and security in the region. He underscored that durable peace and stability in Afghanistan are inevitable for development and progress of the region.

The foreign minister said Pakistan played a reconciliatory role in the Afghan peace process with utmost sincerity, which was commended by the entire world. He expressed the resolve that the country will continue its efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.They also exchanged views on the Afghan peace process and regional peace and stability.

Besides, Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a statement said India is interfering in Balochistan at the same time it is also adversely affecting peace efforts in Afghanistan. He added he apprised United States (US) Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad about Indian intentions.

He said terrorists involved in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) attack wanted to take people hostage, but Pakistani security personnel successfully foiled their bid. He maintained India wants incidents of terrorism to divert world attention. He said it is India that orchestrated the drama of Pulwama attack.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved a verdict on maintainability of a petition seeking to stop Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan from performing his duties.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah took up the petition that requested the court to constitute a judicial commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the issue of dubious licences of pilots.

Advocate Tariq Asad, the petitioner, contended before the bench that Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar’s statement about alleged fake or improper licences of pilots has dented the image of the country.He impleaded the prime minister, the National Assembly speaker, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and the Civil Aviation Authority respondents through the principal secretary and the secretary aviation.

Last week, Ghulam Sarwar had revealed that as many as 262 pilots, out of a total of 860 in the country, had ‘suspicious flying licences’, who would be grounded immediately.

“Their [pilots] licences are doubtful due to certain reasons including dates of examination and exams. There are some pilots, who did not appear in any paper, out of eight, but managed to get the licences. Among them are those working with the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue, Serene, private clubs and foreign airlines,” he said while talking to the media after presenting the  interim inquiry report on the PIA plane crash in the National Assembly.