SHC seeks details of inquiries against PIA employees

Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought details of inquiries initiated by the Pakistan International Airlines’ management against employees who stayed away from duties during the anti-privatisation protest.

The directives came during the hearing of a lawsuit jointly filed by 16 employees of the national flag carrier, challenging show-cause notices served by the management for taking part in tge protests in February; the PIA administration, defense ministry, chairman PIA and others were cited as defendants.

Plaintiffs Mohammad Suhail Baluch, Nasrullah Khan and others maintained that the management had served show-cause notices to victimise them for staging a protest at the Jinnah International Airport on February 2 against the federal government’s proposed scheme to privatize the airlines.

They argued that the PIA management’s action was uncalled for, as staging a peaceful protest to ensure protection of their rights was guaranteed by the constitution.

The plaintiffs pleaded to the court to declare the show-cause notices illegal and unlawful; it was also requested to suspend the notices. 

The PIA’s lawyer informed the court that the management had withdrawn the notices served to the plaintiffs; therefore, the case could be dismissed as the purpose had been served.

The court, however, directed the PIA’s counsel to submit details of inquiries initiated by the management against the petitioners.