MULTAN: A local court in Pakpattan on Monday fined an Arifwala's youth Rs3,000 for attempting to fly a so-called airplane he had created.
Rang Shah police lodged a first information report (FIR) against Muhammad Fayaz, a resident of Chak No32/SP Tabar, on Sunday on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Shaukat Ali, who stated that he was informed that at least 500 people had gathered at Chak No50/SP Wali Pul Rajbah where a man, who had invented a mini airplane, used the metal link road as a runway to take off on its maiden flight and took several rounds in the air.
He stated that he was told the experiment could lead to an accident. Soon he reached the spot and found the man landing the plane on the road. On being asked, Fayaz was unable to provide a government-issued permit to operate the airplane.
Police arrested Fayaz besides taking his plane into custody as well as the generator, 12-watt battery and 10-litre petrol in two plastic containers from the plane. They lodged the FIR against him under sections 285, 286 and 287 of the PPC.
Investigation Officer Shaukat Ali told South Punjab News that the court has fined Fayaz Rs3,000 and ordered that he be released. “He is now at home,” he added.
Fayaz told the local media that he belonged to a poor family and had passed the matriculation examination, but could not continue his studies. He said that he had sold the land he inherited to pay for his father’s treatment, who could not survive, adding that it was his dream to join the air force, but he could not due to his financial conditions. He further said that he worked as a guard at night and ran a popcorn shop in the day.
He said that initially he had invented a helicopter, but it could not fly due to a weak engine.
“I did not give up and secured a loan of Rs50,000 from a private bank and purchased a high-powered engine from Faisalabad. But now my plane has been confiscated on the directions of the court,” he added.
He claimed he could create and fly a plane if the government provided him some assistance. He appealed to the government as well as the army chief for financial assistance and ensure provision of education to his children. He said he and his children wanted to join the air force and sought help in this regard. He requested the government to help him get his plane back that took him three years to create.
TV anchor and aviation enthusiast Fakhr-e-Alam, who made headlines last year for becoming the first Pakistani to circumnavigate the globe solo, has defended the man from Arifwala who was arrested on Sunday for attempting to operate "a flying device" he had invented.
According to a report , the man took his mini-airplane on its maiden flight on Sunday, using the metal link road as a runway and took several rounds in the air before he was discovered by the police. He was placed in 'protective custody' for flying his mini-airplane without a government-issued permit. His plane has been confiscated on the orders of the court.
While the inventor has since been released after being fined Rs3000, Fakhr-e-Alam has strongly criticised the government's treatment of him.
He hailed the man as "a hero" and "a legend" and criticised the government for not encouraging a resourceless man for his innovativeness. He acknowledged that he may have broke the regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority but stressed that government needs to facilitate his efforts and help him comply with the law. Citing examples of homemade airplanes from around the world, he called for the government to provide better opportunities to people interested in exploring STEM:
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Invention