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Airline suspends 16 pilots, 65 cabin crew over fake degrees

Avoid dismissals carried out in haste or under pressure, Pakistan court tells authorities

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday was informed that the licences of 16 pilots and 65 cabin crew members had been suspended for holding fake academic degrees.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) revealed this information to a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, in a suo Motu case pertaining to verification of degrees held by pilots and other staff members of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Justice Nisar directed the authorities concerned to handle the matter with care and to avoid dismissals carried out in haste or under pressure. He emphasised that PIA should only take action after conducting thorough inquiries.

The counsel for PIA apprised the bench that, except for six degrees, all others have been verified. The six degrees that have not been verified belong to those who have foreign degrees.

Meanwhile, a dismissed pilot told the court that he was hired on an FSC degree, but his services have been terminated over an allegedly fake BSc degree.

Justice Nisar maintained that if anyone has any issues then they should approach the relevant forum in appeal. He remarked, “The impression is that action is being taken in haste over the court order” adding that “we do not want to halt anyone’s source of income” but will not allow any one to continue his work with fake academic degrees. The court subsequently disposed of the matter.