According to some, this entire claim by the Aviation Minister was a ill-thought-through attempt to tame PALPA - the airline pilots’ union. But it has blown up and left egg on Pakistan’s face around the world.

So now the Minister is calling the licenses “suspect” rather than “fake”. And while he says he’s sent the names to the airlines, PIA spox confirms they have yet to receive the list. So they still don’t know who to ground. Only thing this govt seems concerned about is publicity.

@hyzaidi Meanwhile the CEO of the airline says give us the list of these 150 are and issues a reminder as well.

@norbalm Yup, insiders claim the Air Marshall is livid as well. Though he would have been in the forefront of trying to cut PALPA down to size.

@hyzaidi Who made this statement?

@PaiArsalan Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

@hyzaidi TBF the problem and fraud and crime and blame is on the specific lying pilots. Let's focus on who committed the wrong doing. Surely you are not suggesting the Govt of Pakistan should sweep this fraud under the rug.

@sameerchishty No. As usual you’ve caught the wrong end of the stick. If true, it should be handled promptly and dealt with severely. But claiming this in parliament before you take action is rubbish. CAA which judges licenses would be equally complicit. It’s not limited to the pilots.

@hyzaidi Just like previous govts, push it under the carpet.. It’s about safety of ppl. Every time new govt brought it’s own ppl esp in PIA added to the staff inc pilots. Doesn’t matter how but now it’s out in the open

@gulas98 This is not the way to do it. Take action, don’t simply announce it before taking action. Now as a result ALL pilots have become suspect and all Pak airlines and pilots face blacklisting around the world.

@hyzaidi Yes he admitting that is a disaster & acting on it, but the Govts who recruited them & didnt do anything about it were not, wow this lot seems to be getting lower & lower in their hatred!

@hyzaidi اور یہ سچ ہے ۔ پی پی اور ن لیگ نے اس ادارے میں سبھی ایسے لوگ بھرتی کئے ہیں۔ برباد کردیا تھا ملک کے سسٹم کو

@hyzaidi @FauziaKasuri This government!!!! Seriously no one help this qaum

@hyzaidi @FauziaKasuri One can never think that this can happen in this institution as peoples lives are at stake astaghfaar!!! This was done to the people of Pakistan in previous government, I dread to think what they must have done to other institutions.

@hyzaidi You are implying that ”This govt” is a disaster?? Have PTI hired these fake pilots or the previous govts?? I think you have short memory mate. When PTI hired AM Malik, he fired many but they got stay from courts and unions nearly removed PIA chairman, remember??

@hyzaidi Whoa! (amazing thought process). So you are okay to have an unlicensed (or a fake) pilot flying your airplane/

@hyzaidi So are you going to get the government sacked as well 😂😂😂

@hyzaidi It’s probably a lot safer to ride a dragon than @PIAplanes !!

@hyzaidi One could object the way this issue is being handled by Aviation Minister, but to avoid anymore incidents like PK8303, the total cleansing of culprits involved from PCCA&PIA is need of time

@hyzaidi Axactly.