THIS is apropos of the news item about the increasing number of air accidents in Pakistan (June 6).

I wonder where the data came from on the basis of which it is said that Pakistan has about the worst record of aircraft accidents in the world.

The fact that the Bhoja Air crash is becoming a criminal case should not prevent the insurers of Bhoja from paying due compensation to the heirs of the deceased who produce succession certificates.

Those who wish to wait for the outcome of the criminal prosecution of Bhoja bosses may do so, perhaps in the hope that if ‘gross negligence’ or ‘wilful misconduct’ on the part of the airline is established, they might get more than Rs5 million as compensation.

But this will be possible only if such claimants are able to prove that they have actually suffered that much damage. Such persons are likely to be very few. But why most of the claimants who are not looking for that elusive greater compensation should suffer. This is a humanitarian issue and should be settled as early as possible.

S.M. ANWAR Karachi