SC refuses to reinstate PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik.

Byline: SHAHID RAO

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday turned down Air Marshal Arshad Malik's appeal to reinstate him as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad permitted the board of directors to perform functions for the running of the national carrier of PIA.

During the hearing, Justice Gulzar remarked that Air Marshal Malik was appointed temporarily. He questioned the appointments of two air vice marshals, four air commodores, three wing commanders and one flight lieutenant in the PIA.

Justice Gulzar asked, 'How can Arshad Malik make such appointments when he himself is appointed on deputation?'

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah also expressed concern over the increase in fares, and said another case pertaining to the PIA chief's appointment was already being heard in the Supreme Court. 'You are running the national airline's affairs like those of a family business [...] How can you manage PIA when you failed Shaheen Airways miserably?' he said.

Earlier, a two-member bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) in its order had also restrained chief human resource officer and the airline's board of directors, through its chairman/CEO, from carrying out any function as well as encumbering or disposing of assets of the national flag carrier valued over Rs10 million.

In his petition, Malik stated that negotiations for export of planes were conducted by him with Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt, Argentine and Nigeria with orders obtained from them later.

He also said that he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Personnel) for a year, dealing with human resources issues, both of civilians and serving Air Force employees. This assignment included HR Planning, Career Profession Development of the entire Human Resources of the PAF, all over Pakistan.

Malik informed the court that before deputed to PIA he was the Vice Chief of PAF looking after the PAF budget, flight safety, training institutes and...