The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has recommended action against real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and his wife for violating the Covid 19 restrictions at Allama Iqbal Iqbal International Airport.
Following the refusal of Malik Riaz and his wife Bina Riaz to test the Covid 19, the airport's chief operating officer / airport manager forwarded his recommendations to senior officials at the CAA headquarters in Karachi.
It may be recalled that the CAA had on May 1 issued new protocols for passengers arriving in the country, instructing all international airlines to ensure compliance with SOPs for all passengers and crew.
The statement further said that all passengers would have to undergo RAT on arrival and non-compliance would result in severe punishment.
Therefore, in a letter sent on Monday, AIIACOO Akhtar Mirza said that Malik Riaz, his wife and a passenger with him refused to undergo the test twice, once at the airport and the second time. A team was sent to his residence.
The official letter said that on May 16, the CEO of Bahria Town along with four other passengers landed at Stand No. 2 of Allama Iqbal International Airport on a chartered flight from Dubai.
According to the letter, after the immigration process, the CAA staff on duty asked him to get an antigen (code) test, but instead of responding, he walked outside.
CAA staff later told him again about the government's instructions, but "Bahria Town CEO, his wife and passenger Mahmood Qureshi left the airport without being tested."
However, other passengers accompanying Malik Riaz took the test, which turned out to be negative.
According to the airport manager, a team of medical staff from Lahore Airport was later sent to his residence but he refused to give samples.
On the other hand, SP Operation Syed Ali of Cantonment Division said that the police had not received any complaint against the said passengers.
