Travel agents body served notice over theft of 5,600 passports
ISLAMABAD: The Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP) has been issued a legal notice worth Rs100 million by a renowned law firm of Pakistan over the theft of 5,600 passports which were stolen on 5th and 6th June this year from TAAP’s office.
AK Brohi & Co law firm has sued Yahya Polani, Chairman TAAP, and Marhaba Travels & Tourism (Pvt) Ltd for not taking due care of the important documents such as national and international passports and national identity cards. The name of the client has been withheld here. “You failed to take proper care of the passports and NICs which resulted in the theft of the passports of our client including 5,600 other passports, on 5th/6th June 2011 from the offices of TAAP,” says the legal notice adding: “You are advised, in your own interest, to act on a priority basis so that no further loss is caused to our client and his family. Please further note that should you fail to settle this matter within 14 days from the date of this legal notice, we have clear instructions from our client to initiate legal proceedings against you in the court of law, which shall be entirely at your own risk as to costs and consequences. Take note that our clients intend to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against each of you, should you fail to settle the matter.”
The notice mentions that the conduct of TAAP was a clear violation of the contract since TAAP and the travel agent failed to properly take care and exercise due diligence in protecting the passports and NICs of “our client”. In addition, TAAP was negligent in not employing proper methods, technology, personnel, etc, for protection of the passports.
“Your negligence was wilful and manifestly incriminating. Similarly, you have breached your duties as a bailee. Furthermore, your conduct squarely falls within the parameters of criminal negligence. It must be pointed out that each of you is jointly and severally responsible for the loss of these valuable documents of our client. You failed to take proper care of the passports and NICOP cards by leaving them in an unguarded office, without a proper security alarm system, without any safety mechanism whatsoever. It is criminal negligence that you left 5,600 passports in one office without anyone to protect those passports. Even otherwise, you were jointly and severally responsible for ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to ensure the protection of our client’s passports and NICOP cards, and this was an essential term of the contract.”
Source: Dawn
Date:7/7/2011
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