Senate panel meeting marred by heated exchange

PTI, PML-N senators clash over reinstatement of sacked PIA employees

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation was marred by uproar following a heated exchange over the reinstatement of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) who were sacked for possessing fake degrees.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Mushahidullah Khan, who is the committee chairman, called for the reinstatement of those employees who were discharged wrongfully on the pretext of possessing fake degrees.

However, it turned into a verbal spat between Mushahidullah and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed over the state carrier’s performance at the time of PML-N government and its current situation.



The meeting was briefed Opposition authorities on fake degrees matter stood firm before committee maintaining have finalised decision on 121 fake degree cases and won’t review it.

Following the heated exchange, PTI senators staged a walkout in protest against the attitude of the committee chair. This also resulted in the session ending inconclusively on the issue of reinstatement of terminated PIA employees.

During the meeting, aviation authorities informed the committee that it initiated inquiry into the credentials of 337 employees. The degrees of 121 employees were found to be fake, upon which action has been taken and it was no longer up for review.

“No decision has been made regarding the remaining cases,” the officials said, adding that those with fake degrees were given two years to submit actual or valid degrees to get reinstated.



While hearing the case of PIA employees, the committee stressed the need for leniency. However, it recommended that any action taken must be within the ambit of law.

The committee also expressed its displeasure over the absence of the aviation minister and the chairman of PIA from the meeting. Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah remarked that if the relevant minister and officials fail to show up, there was no point for holding such high-level meetings.

The committee also took up a Calling Attention Notice, put up by Senator Sherry Rehman, regarding the violation of basic human rights and Industrial Relations Act, 2012 by imposing a ban on union activities through the Essential Service Act of 1952.

The committee was of the view that unions are an essential part of healthy organisations worldwide and must be reinstated.  It also asked the PIA administration to ensure pay scales of PIA employees are at par with those of other airlines. The Calling Attention Notice was dismissed.