The high-ups of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday gave a clean chit to their UK country manager for delaying President Zardari’s flight from London to Islamabad.
“Absolving Mansoor Mela from the blame, National Airline Management reinstated him as the country head of PIA, allegedly under the pressure of the PPP government,” sources told Pakistan Today.
PIA UK Country Manager Mansoor Mela was suspended by the Ministry of Defence in October 2012 after President Zardari’s flight to Islamabad was delayed for half an hour at London’s Heathrow airport.
A PIA official, on the condition of anonymity, said the day Mela was suspended, PIA high ups were under tremendous pressure to reinstate Mansoor Mela but they were reluctant to withdraw his name because he was suspended on the orders of the president’s military secretary.
However, the source said that to appease his brother, Federal Minister Ghias Mela, Mansoor Mela was allowed to stay on the same post in London and a so-called inquiry committee was formed by the PIA officials which absolved him of any wrongdoing.
Similarly, in a related development, PIA administration decided against granting any further extension to the tenure of Birmingham Station Manager Sultan Mir.
“Mir was using his political links to get another term, but with the change of government, PIA officials ordered him to report back to the headquarters,” the source added.
The source added that Mir was already facing a number of inquiries for his alleged involvement in corruption and misuse of authority.
When contacted for comments, PIA GM Media Mashhood Tajwar confirmed that an official enquiry was held regarding the delay in President Zardair’s flight and Mansoor Mela was found innocent and he would serve in UK as per his tenure period. “However, he said Birmingham Station Manager Sultan Mir will be replaced by new officer shortly,” Tajwar said.
Tajwar said there was a selection process in PIA and those selected had to complete the necessary formalities as per state regulations of both countries prior to taking charge.
I am very happy hear this, It looks like PIA management has started to get on top of things, this is the type of stance the management should be taking, there are great people in PIA management and I personally know a couple of them however they need a few more good men and the airline will flourish once again. Taking action against Mr Mir shows how serious the management is.
One thing is for sure firing a manager because flights are late should be done on regular basis and not only for Zardari's flight; why should it only be the president's flight???!!! Moreover, I am sure there must be a valid reason as to why the flight was late and did any so-called "high-ups" ever try to find out the actual reason for delay???!!! And PIA so-called "high-ups" should look into firing a number of PIA staff who have no work to do except to collect paychecks each month! Bottom line, it should not be only for the president!
PIA should be privatized . Govt should not be in the business of running an Airline and that too at a big loss.
Most coruupt Manager in PIA.
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