Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf appointed Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Asif Yasin Malik as the new chairman of Pakistan International Airlines. Capt Junaid Yunus, meanwhile, has been appointed as the new managing director (MD) of the national flag carrier.
The defence ministry issued both notifications on Wednesday.
Lt-Gen Malik has been appointed in place of former air chief marshal Rao Qamar Suleman. The airline had no permanent chairman since the latter’s resignation from the post on September 18.
Suleman was acting as PIA’s MD for two months, before being appointed chairman on May 23. He reportedly resigned on account of ill health. PIA sources, however, claim he was dissatisfied with the airline’s performance and increasing political interference in its affairs.
Defence ministry spokesperson Narita Farhan confirmed Lt-Gen Malik’s appointment. “He has been appointed by the Prime Minister from a pool of strong but appropriate candidates for the post… Lt-Gen Malik has assumed office with immediate effect.”
Disputes at PIA
Wednesday’s notifications cleared certain rumours floating about the two offices.
Lahore-based businessman Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf had earlier claimed he was appointed as both PIA’s chairman and MD by the Prime Minister himself. Later, in the first week of October, the defence ministry rebutted Ashraf’s claims saying they were “based on speculation and false assumptions.”
Ashraf, meanwhile, maintained that certain defence ministry officials had reservations over his appointment and did not allow him to assume charge, despite him offering his services free of charge.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2012.
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