Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Shaheen Air International has been operating in the country without attaining security certificate from the security agencies of Pakistan, it has been revealed in secret document submitted to higher authority for probing the dubious affairs of the airline.

To get security clearance certificate from the security agencies of the country is mandatory for all airlines before they start operation, a senior Aviation official told Daily Times.

It is pertinent to mention here that the license of the airline has already expired but the flights operations are continued without renewal of the license.

The documents revealed that the owners of Shaheen Air International are Canadian nationals who applied for security clearance to the concerned quarters in 2014 but their request was turned down, citing their business and the character are dubious.

Pakistan Security agencies including ISI, MI, IB, Custom Intelligence Unit, Police and special forces have powers to grant security clearance after thoroughly probe of the application.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on the instructions of Civil Aviation Division on May 11 2016 renewed and issued the licence for regular passenger transportation to Shaheen Air International, violating its own rules and regulation, the document revealed.

The CAA has directed the administration of Airlines to get security clearance of its CEO and C MAN from country prime security agency ISI or the CEO and chief manager should be changed, the letter states.

Shaheen Airlines was established by PAR Shaheen Foundation in mid 1990 but it was sold to Khalid Sehbai in 2004 when the country was being governed by Musharraf who was also holding charge of army chief of Pakistan army.

After the death of Khalid Sehbai in July 2013, his two sons namely Kashif Sehbai and Ehsan Sehbai as both are Canadian nationals took the charge of airline affairs.

They inducted 14 old vintage B737 -200 aircrafts but they never flew more than 6-7 and the remaining aircrafts were parked in open sky and their spare parts were used to service of other aircraft, violation all safety rules and hoodwinking the system and to avoid taxes on spare parts.

The source told that their old aircrafts also were used to obtain loans from local and international banks. At present the aircrafts are parked at Karachi Airport for the last 6 years.

The document furthered added that custom authority has also lodged a case against Shaheen Air for tax evasion of Rs 4 billion and the efforts are being made for recovery of this amount.

The record of their corruption states that the management is showing less than actual travel load in order to evade and avoid taxes and the government officers are facilitating the management at the cost of the national kitty.

The sources told that Shaheen Air has been continued its flying operation with the connivance of CAA authority on international routes of Saudi Arabia, Middle East, UK, China and Malaysia despite the licence has not been renewed and the security clearance of its owner has yet to attain from the authority.

The sources said that airport security passes to the management were being issued regularly by ASF and Shaheen Airline employees have the access to sensitive places of the airports despite the fact that their security had not been cleared.

The sources said that the incumbent owner of airline has dubious means of their business as the both brothers were involved in money laundering and allegedly has sent over Rs 1 billion through Khyber Travel Dubai Aand Spintex Textile Mills Dubai. These two agents have deposited over one billion rupees through 50 cheques in various accounts in Emirates NBP, HBL and Mashriq Bank in Dubai. The record of their dubious business deal shows that the revenue earned by sales of tickets in Iran is converted to Dollars and sent to Lahore through courier service.

The record of email by Station Manager Mashad to higher management has also been surfaced.

The record of their corruption revealed that Shaheem Air management is misusing the CAA property allotted to it for construction of crew hut now it has been converted into chairman house of the airline and the building is also being used as residence for their foreigner guests without security clearance.

The well informed sources told this scribe that this residence is also become hub of immoral activities and on the report of its misuse CAA authority had raided the hose and ordered to seal it but the management got the stay order from the local court with the connivance of CAA officer who are facilitating the airline management.

A senior aviation officer told this scribe that Shaheen Air not only has become security risk to the country but also the safety of traveller is also at stakes.

Daily Times approached Secretary Civil Aviation Division for this comments but he did not show his willingness to give his views.