SHC stops PIA chief Air Marshal Arshad Malik from working

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday has barred Air Marshal Arshad Malik from conducting any role as Pakistan International Airline (PIA) chief executive until Jan. 22 on a petition questioning his appointment.

A bench of two judges headed by Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui has released notices to the respondents and the deputy attorney general for Jan 22.

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The bench in its order said the petitioner’s lawyer’s arguments merited attention, particularly the obvious gigantic gulf between qualifications, training and experience of the CEO and the work requirement.

Meanwhile, the bench said the PIA chief, chief human resource officer and the board of directors of the airline, through its chairman / CEO, were prevented from carrying out any function as well as encumbering or disposing of assets valued over Rs10 million from the national flag carrier.

Petitioner Safdar Anjum, who is the general secretary of one of the PIA senior staff/employee unions, submitted that, since the PIA was a national asset he was filing the petition in the public interest and to uphold the fundamental rights of all association members and the general public.

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He claimed that the appointment was also made in violation of the 2013 Public Sector Companies “Corporate Governance” rules and the 2015 Public Sector Companies “Appointment of Chief Executive” regulations, both of which were specific to the PIA.