The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) managing director to appear before the court and clarify his stance over the issue of victimising women in the organisation.
The notice was issued by the apex court to the MD of the national flag carrier when Captain Riffat Hai submitted an application before the court requesting making her a party in the current case, saying women were professionally victimised and sexually harassed by some of the PIA officials.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Justice Sh Azmat Saeed resumed hearing of mismanagement and corruption in PIA.
During the course of proceeding, Justice Gulzar Ahmad asked the applicant Riffat whether she had submitted any application before the officials regarding the harassment and victimisation.
Captain Riffat said she had submitted several applications to the concerned officials but no action was taken, that was why she decided to become party in the current PIA case.
The petitioner further told the bench that any employee who raised a voice against the management was victimised and she herself was an example of professional victimisation when she was forced to sit at home for more than a year.
She added that the atmosphere was not suitable and congenial for women working with the national flag carrier.
Upon this, the bench accepted her application to become party while issuing notice to the PIA MD.
Meanwhile, Raja Bashir Ahmed, counsel for PIA, informed the bench that the attorney general was engaged with the PIA chairman, as he would be appearing in the next hearing on the behalf of PIA chairman.
He also requested the bench to give some time for preparation.
The court later adjourned proceedings until March 14.