1/18/2015

India harassing our national airline: Pak - The Times of India

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India harassing our national airline: Pak

Sachin Paras har,T NN | Ja n 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 , 0 2 .4 8 A M IST

NEW DELHI: In this winter chill in India-Pakistan relations, there's another storm quietly building
up. Pakistan has alleged that its national carrier PIA is being harassed by Indian authorities for
"illegal" purchase of properties in violation of RBI guidelines in an attempt, it said, meant to force PIA
to shut its India operations and prevent people to people contacts.
The properties in question, 4 flats on Barakhamba Road, house the main PIA office in India. After it
was served a notice by both RBI and ED, PIA has now replied saying that the flats, along with parking
plots, were purchased in 2005 as per the Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and Transfer of
Immovable Property in India) Regulations and that a declaration of the acquisition was filed with
RBI within the stipulated 90 days.
July 21, 1976: The first flight of Pakistan
I nternational Airlines to have landed in I ndia at
Santacruz airport Mumbai.

This, PIA claims, was even acknowledged by RBI then. The same declaration was made by Citibank
through which the payment for the properties was made. PIA has asked RBI and ED to immediately
withdraw their notices "in larger interests of people from both countries'' saying these were hampering
its operations here.

PIA operates a weekly flight to Lahore and Karachi from Delhi and twice to Karachi from Mumbai. It has had its office in India since 1976. ?PIA,
according to Pakistan, will not give in to any "intimidation" and will not stall operations until it is specifically asked to do so by India.
Pakistan officials said that the visa of PIA's chief here had not been extended and that even his mobile phone had been disconnected by indian
authorities. "It reflects a malafide intent to stop PIA operation and cause a blow to people to people contact. If PIA shuts down, people in northern
India may still travel to Pakistan through Wagah but it will greatly inconvenience those in other parts of the country," said a Pakistan official.
PIA and Pakistan government officials are wondering as to why this issue of violation of RBI guidelines? has come up only 10 years after the purchase
of the flats. The obvious inference on their part is that the development may be related to the change of dispensation in India with the Narendra Modi
led government taking a more hardline position on issues related to Pakistan.
The first notice to PIA was sent in November 2014. Indian government officials said they had nothing to do with the notice to PIA. According to
Indian officials, it is Pakistan which has consistently glossed over the significance of connectivity and better people to people ties by not fulfilling its
promise to grant India non discriminatory market access, in return for India's MFN status to Pakistan, and open Wagah border for trade.
Indian officials said it was Pakistan which had delayed the signing of a motor vehicles agreement which would have facilitated free movement of
commercial vehicles across Saarc countries. While India cancelled the foreign secretary-level talks last year after Pakistan high commissioner decided
to meet Hurriyat leaders, PM Nawaz Sharif's adviser Sartaj Aziz again said last week that Pakistan was not going to hold any dialogue with India
without Kashmir on agenda.
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