Supreme Court Dismisses Petitions Challenging PIA CEO Appointment and Seeks Airline's Progress Report

[Abbas Ali]

By Hasnaat Maik

Published: October 2, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed petitions challenging the appointment of Air Marshal Arshad Malik as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, the petitioner maintained that the appointed PIA CEO had no relevant experience.

Justice Bandial noted that Malik had been appointed in the short-term. He asked the PIA CEO to design short-term and long-term projects and observed that the national flag carrier structure should be upgraded.

The court directed the PIA management to submit a progress report in one month.

Source: tribune.com.pk

[Abbas Ali]

Government officials and heads of various government organizations including CEO PIA Musharraf Rasool Cyan and PM's Aviation Adviser/Assistant Shujaat Azeem were removed/stopped from working by court orders during the previous government.

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

By Hasnaat Maik

Published: October 2, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed petitions challenging the appointment of Air Marshal Arshad Malik as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, the petitioner maintained that the appointed PIA CEO had no relevant experience.

Justice Bandial noted that Malik had been appointed in the short-term. He asked the PIA CEO to design short-term and long-term projects and observed that the national flag carrier structure should be upgraded.

The court directed the PIA management to submit a progress report in one month.

Source: tribune.com.pk

Not at all unexpected

[Abbas Ali]

By WASIM IQBAL & NUZHAT NAZAR on December 15, 2019

Audit Report of Public Sector Entities 2018-19 submitted before the parliament, revealed that public sector enterprises were making fresh appointments, re-employing retired personnel and appointing consultants without observing regulations. Shortcomings in the hiring process were identified in the case of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Air Marshal Arshad Malik was appointed CEO Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on April 26, 2019. On October 1, 2019, Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging his appointment.

Source: brecorder.com

[Abbas Ali]

Today, a lawyer representing PIA informed the Supreme Court that CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik has retired from PAF. The retired Air Marshal is now working only for PIA as airline's CEO, the court was informed.

Supreme Court rejected PIA progress report submitted by the airline. The court was not satisfied with report on losses suffered by the airline.

The court was informed that PIA is struggling due to COVID-19 pandemic. The court replied that PIA was already struggling before COVID-19 pandemic.

PIA is under the burden of the debt due to mismanagement, the court remarked. The apex court remarked that hiring of professionals is required for the airline.

Details of pilots license scandal were also given to the court.

The court asked how many employees have been hired. The court was informed that airline's two thousand employees have been laid off/sacked and no one has been hired.

The court directed PIA management to take steps for restoring airline's flight operations to & from Europe as soon as possible.

PIA lawyer sought more time from the court for reporting improvements in the airline.

The court has asked PIA to make airline's business plan and details of pilots license scandal investigation part of the new report to be presented in the court.

Next hearing of the case will take place in January 2021.

Abbas