PAT criticizes government for outsourcing management of airports

The Central Core Committee of Pakistan Awami Tehreek has demanded the strict action from the higher judiciary while terming the decision of cabinet to outsource the management of airports as the flagrant contempt of court and disastrous for the national interest.

The members of Core Committee, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Dr. SM Zamir, Brig. (r ) Muhammad Mushtaq pointed out that the government’s decision of outsourcing the management of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad airports have been challenged in the Islamabad High Court by the employees of Civil Aviation Authority and the proceeding of this case is due to start from April 18 but despite this, the cabinet, headed by PM, has given formal approval of outsourcing the management and maintenance of airports on April 12.

The PAT leaders further said that in this background, this approval was tantamount to ridiculing the judiciary and compromising the national interest.

Member of the Central Core Committee, Noorullah Siddiqui, PAT spokesperson, said while talking to media that the airports have the status of national assets and privatization of these national assets would never serve the national interests in any situation. He further added that it was tantamount to destroying peace and security of Pakistan with one’s own hands by entrusting the foreigners with the power of controlling the exit and entrance of country.

The PAT Spokesperson indicated that outsourcing of airports must be construed as the negligence on the part of government and destructive for the national interests. He said that the government could not be allowed to implement this decision in any case. He said that ever since the present rulers had entered the power corridors, motorways and historical sites were being mortgaged to secure loans and this situation had deteriorated to such an extent that now government was mortgaging the national assets.

Moreover, the senior member of the Core Committee, Dr. SM Zamir lamented that due to load shedding of more than 18 hours on daily basis, the young, the patients, the old, the housewives, and the daily wagers were cursing the government. He further said that all the promises of eliminating load shedding made by the elites were proving to be the pack of lies. He said that if the people voted on the basis of performance rather than hollow slogans, even the bails of incumbent rulers and their allies would be cancelled immediately.