SC rejects PIA CEO Arshad Malik's appeal to remain on post.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday rejected an appeal filed by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Arshad Malik to remain on the post while raising suspicions on the appointment of 10 officers of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the national flag carrier.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, called into question the appointments of four air vice marshals, two air commodores, three wing commanders and one flight lieutenant in the national airline.

'How can Arshad Malik make such appointments when he himself is appointed on deputation?' questioned the top judge.

The bench also noted that another case pertaining to the PIA chief's appointment was already being heard in the apex court.

Malik had filed a petition in the SC, requesting a stay order against a Sindh High Court (SHC) order, which restrained him from working as PIA's chief executive.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who was part of the bench hearing the case, said: 'We want to see if the advertisement of PIA CEO's post was designed with Arshad Malik in mind as he does not have the pre-requisite qualification, education or the expertise required for the job.'

Justice Shah also raised concerns over reports that a bid worth Rs70 million was awarded to a retired air commodore and said that the 'fares of PIA had increased by 100 per cent' since Malik's appointment.

'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 remarked.

The SC rejected Malik's plea and handed the reins of PIA...