News
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
SC seeks PIA reply on increase in Umrah, Hajj fares
* Petitioner tells apex court foreign airlines much cheaper than state carrier
* Court adjourns hearing till August 18
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday once again directed PIA to submit a comprehensive report regarding the increase in Umrah and Hajj fares within two days.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising of Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani heard the petition filed by Supreme Court’s Advocate Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta challenging the high airfare for Hajj and Umrah charged by PIA, last year.
He contended that PIA normally charges Rs 42,000 for Jeddah, while PIA’s return fare for Hajj is about Rs 120,000 and for Umrah the price is between Rs 50,000 to 70,000. Bhutta said that the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the PIA but that no reply had been submitted so far.
Bhutta told the bench that Ariana (Afghan International Airlines) return air fare for Umrah and Hajj was Rs 43,000 and informed them that Qatar Emirates International Airlines fares were also much cheaper than PIA’s. In his petition he demanded that an investigation be held, headed by chief of military intelligence with the help of FIA, Intelligence Bureau and senior officials of police. The counsel for PIA requested the court to adjourn. The court adjourned the hearing till August 18.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk