Canada’s asylum rules make Toronto layovers a popular venue for PIA crew members to abscond
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OTTAWA — For the third time this year, a crew member on an incoming Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight has gone missing in Toronto.
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Asif Najam, a senior flight attendant with the Karachi-based airline, arrived in Toronto last Sunday aboard flight PK798 from Lahore, and was scheduled to depart three days later on the flight back to Pakistan.
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According to Dubai-based news outlet Gulf News, he never showed up for the flight — despite repeated attempts by the airline to contact him.
When contacted by the airline as to the reason for his absence, Gulf News reports he cited “ill health.”
Najam’s absence marks the third such case this year of PIA cabin crew absconding during Canadian layovers.
Formal inquiry launched
The Toronto Sun reached out to PIA for comment, but Gulf News reports the airline told them a formal inquiry was launched.
“When contacted, he cited ill health as the reason,” airline spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan told Gulf News.
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“The matter is under investigation and action will be taken if he is found to have disappeared illegally.”
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Another Pakistani airline crew member goes missing after landing at Pearson
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Flight attendants from Pakistan keep skipping out on return trips after arriving in Toronto
According to PIA, eight crew members failed to show up for return flights in Canada between 2022 and 2023.
Canada’s asylum rules tempting
Canada’s lax asylum and immigration rules are often cited as a reason for PIA crew members to skip return flights, hoping to bypass normal processes and secure permanent residence in Canada.
In October 2024, Mohsin Raza failed to board their return flight to Islamabad after it arrived in Toronto.
Earlier that year in February, Maryam Raza left her flight attendant’s uniform in her hotel with a note saying “Shukria PIA,” which translates to thank you, PIA.”
One month later, PIA steward Jibran Baloch likewise absconded from his hotel, failing to show up for his return flight to Islamabad.
Efforts by the airline to stop the problem have gone nowhere, including compelling staff on flights to Toronto to surrender their passports.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
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