ISLAMABAD: A total of 599 candidates have applied for the post of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) director general, the recruitment process for which will be completed in a month, the government told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday.

At a hearing of a petition by pilot Saqlain Akhtar, who was fired for possessing fake credentials, an Aviation Division representative said the government has begun the hiring process for the head of the CAA, which will be completed by next month.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah has already issued a stay in this matter.

According to the division’s report, an office memorandum from the Establishment Division issued on March 28, 2019 regarding the selection procedure for the chief executive of public sector enterprises, stated that it is mandatory to place an advertisement in leading newspapers and on websites.

The report said the post of CAA director general was advertised on July 4 and 5 in national daily newspapers. The last date of submission for applications was July 20, 2020, and 599 applications have been received.

The applications are being scrutinised before being forwarded to the interview committee.

The post of CAA director general was previously advertised on March 13, 2018, but the appointment process was challenged by a CAA employee in the Lahore High Court. That case was decided in July 2019.

The post was advertised again on Nov 20, 2019, and the process was challenged once more.

The counsel for the petitioner, Zeeshan Hashmi, contended that the post had not been filled on a permanent basis for two years.

The counsel referred to para three of the impugned order, dated July 14, 2020, related to the revoking of Mr Akhtar’s licence, which was supposed to be dealt with by the CAA director general. In the absence of a permanent CAA director general, the matter had to be disposed of by the aviation secretary.

The counsel contended that the petitioner was not confronted with any material related to the alleged use of unfair means to clear the Airline Transport Pilot Licence theoretical knowledge examination.

He argued that the posts of aviation secretary and CAA director general were held by the same person, and therefore the impugned order dated July 14 was not sustainable.

The order was passed in haste and in violation of the principles of procedural fairness, he said.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2020