SC rejects plea seeking restoration of Arshad Malik as PIA CEO
Supreme Court rejects plea seeking restoration of Arshad Malik as PIA CEO.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court (SC) has on Tuesday rejected the plea seeking restoration of Air Marshal Arshad Malik as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The apex court conducted hearing of the case pertaining to the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision which barred Arshad Malik from work. The top court allowed the airline’s board of directors to perform their duties.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that the PIA is not a personal property, it belongs to the nation and no one will be allowed to misuse it. He said the airline has been turned into a ‘family company’ with appointments on personal likes and dislikes.
The chief justice further added that the CEO who was on deputation himself appointed four air vice marshals, two air commodores, three wing commanders and one flight lieutenant.
Justice Sajjad said in his remarks that the advertisement for the appointment of the PIA CEO will also be examined to determine whether it was designed for Arshad Malik, keeping in mind his qualification.
The SC summoned case details from the SHC which had earlier stopped Arshad Malik from working on the petition filed by SSA General Secretary Safdar Anjum.
The plaintiff had argued that Arshad Malik does not fulfill eligibility criteria for PIA CEO and neither has he had any previous experience of working in an airline.
The SHC had also prohibited policy making, new hiring, transfers and termination of employees along with sale of assets worth more than Rs10 million in its verdict.
