PIA case: SC seeks explanation from concerned authorities
Apex court expresses its displeasure over PIA's state of affairs.
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the state of affairs of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), raising questions over the airline’s alleged non-transparent deals, weak management, over-employment, losses and flight delays.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, issued notices to concerned authorities to respond to queries till December 4.
The counsel for PIA Raja Muhammad Bashir confessed before the bench about losses incurred by the airline worth Rs119 billion and frequent flight delays.
The chief justice observed that national institutions were being destroyed and no steps are taken to act against corruption in PIA, Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and other national level institutions.
He added that the bench has been waiting for a reply from the authorities since December 28, 2011 but to no avail.
On the suggestion of summoning the current PIA chairman in this regard, the airline’s counsel said that present management has distanced itself from the past setup and decided not to defend past “alleged wrongdoings”.
The chief justice responded, questioning whether the present management conducted an audit to trace those responsible for maladministration.
The court also mentioned a Transparency International (TI) letter which raised questions over PIA deals with other international airlines.
The apex court bench further inquired about new aircraft purchased on lease.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the state of affairs of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), raising questions over the airline’s alleged non-transparent deals, weak management, over-employment, losses and flight delays.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, issued notices to concerned authorities to respond to queries till December 4.
The counsel for PIA Raja Muhammad Bashir confessed before the bench about losses incurred by the airline worth Rs119 billion and frequent flight delays.
The chief justice observed that national institutions were being destroyed and no steps are taken to act against corruption in PIA, Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and other national level institutions.
He added that the bench has been waiting for a reply from the authorities since December 28, 2011 but to no avail.
On the suggestion of summoning the current PIA chairman in this regard, the airline’s counsel said that present management has distanced itself from the past setup and decided not to defend past “alleged wrongdoings”.
The chief justice responded, questioning whether the present management conducted an audit to trace those responsible for maladministration.
The court also mentioned a Transparency International (TI) letter which raised questions over PIA deals with other international airlines.
The apex court bench further inquired about new aircraft purchased on lease.