FO told to approach German Embassy to repatriate ex-PIA CEO

ISLAMABAD: Adopting the report of its subcommittee, the Senate’s Special Committee on PIA Wednesday asked the Foreign Office to approach the German Embassy in Islamabad to bring back former PIA CEO Bernd Hilldenbrand , a German national, who was allowed to go abroad in June last for one month on its intercession despite the name of the CEO being on the Exit Control List (ECL). The recommendation was contained in the report of the Sub Committee on Sale of PIA Airbus A-310 to a German firm in violation of rules. It was presented by its Convener Senator Farhatullah Babar. Senators Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and Nauman Wazir Khattak were also present. According to the report, the Foreign Office was directed to vigorously pursue the matter with the German Embassy on whose intercession the CEO was one-time waiver from ECL. The report recommended that the show-cause notice issued to then director (P&L), a former PAF officer, be pursued to logical conclusion. “It is strange that, as claimed, the matter of the sale of an aircraft was confined to only two officers – former CEO and a director. The PIA management cannot escape responsibility even though it took some positive actions after the matter became public,” the report said.