‘Destroyers of PIA are traitors’

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday barred all the managing directors of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from leaving the country who served between 2008 and 2018.

The court had earlier ordered their placement on the Exit Control List (ECL) but later revised its orders. It also ordered the formation of a commission to inquire into the airline's alleged privatisation and ascertain reasons for the accumulating losses. The orders came as a three-member bench of the Supreme Court heard the suo motu case of the national flag carrier's reported privatisation.

As the hearing began, the PIA's counsel presented a 9-year audit record. In response to a question, he said the organisation's share was presently selling at Rs5. He informed the court that the airline suffered a loss of Rs44 billion in 2013, Rs37 billion in 2014, Rs32 billion in 2015, Rs45 billion in 2016 and Rs44 billion in 2017.

Referring to the airline's previous bosses, some of whom were present in the court after being summoned earlier, Chief Justice Nisar remarked: "You all destroyed such a large asset...this is an injustice. Those who destroyed the PIA are enemies and traitors". The chief justice remarked they are making a commission to investigate the losses suffered by the PIA, and its alleged privatisation.

The court appointed Dr Farrukh Saleem, an economic expert and columnist, as amicus curiae and asked him to make terms of reference (ToRs) for the inquiry and appropriate the blame. Dr Saleem informed the court that the airline posted a profit of over Rs1 billion in 2002 after which matters went downhill.

The chief justice wondered how long the taxpayers will continue to bail out the organisation, adding the plunder of national assets won't be allowed. The chief justice also ruled that until completion of inquiry no former MD will leave the country without the court’s permission, adding the court is not putting their names on the ECL.

In response to a question, the attorney general, who was summoned by the court to submit a response on behalf of the federal government, said at present the government has no plans to privatise the PIA. The AG also clarified that the PIA had not sold its share of air routes to other airlines. The hearing was then adjourned for two weeks.