The Shehbaz Sharif-led government has decided to drop an investigation by former PTI-Air Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s controversial statement in parliament leading to a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to several countries.

The Ministry of Law had initially proposed an investigation into the circumstances and motives behind Khan’s comments, which suggested that responsibility and litigation must be established.

However, sources revealed that the government advised fact-finding investigation committee to focus only on assessing financial losses and reputation injuries rather than pursuing litigation to avoid unnecessary international control.

Certain cabinet members stated that facts in the statement were exaggerated due to internal canyons between Pakistan International Airlines (Pia) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

During a recent cabinet meeting, ministers expressed serious concerns about the consequences of the former minister’s declaration. Some cabinet members pointed out that internal rifts between Pia and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had led to exaggerated claims in his remarks.

It was also observed that it could be harmful, especially as Pakistan’s aviation industry is more aware of the problem. Pia aircraft to Europe have been resumed and both the UK and the European Union are conducting aviation safety audits to consider lifting the ban on aircraft to the UK.

To press the problem further at this point could do more harm than good. The result was the actual fine investigative committee called upon to keep evaluating financial losses and reputation injuries, guiding litigation or assigning guilt movements that could invite unwanted international attention.

The cabinet was informed that Islamabad High Court (IHC) had previously heard a petition from someone who claimed Khan’s statement had caused reputation damage to Pia. The petitioner sought Khan’s disqualification as a member of the National Assembly.

IHC, however, refrained from intervening in the case and said the court was aware that the Prime Minister and Cabinet members “will not hesitate to continue against a minister or any other official if they are found involved in any way causing damage to it Interests of the state or reputation of professional pilots and the national flag bearer ”.

In light of the court’s observations, the cabinet had refrained from taking up the case. Consequently, the Ministry of Law suggested that the cabinet set up a fact-venue investigation committee with the conditions to investigate the circumstances and motives behind Khan’s hasty statement and assess the financial losses incurred by National Exchequer.

The committee’s mandate included further evaluation of reputation damage caused by the country and the national airline, as well as determining the appropriate legal course of action by identifying responsibilities.

The cabinet considered a briefing on a legally sustainable proposal presented by the law of law and justice to investigate the reasons behind the statement made in parliament regarding Pia pilots by 2020.

Therefore, it constituted a cabinet committee.