Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Thursday said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has not made any out-of-merit appointments in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The state minister said that PIA officials did not receive telephone calls of ministers and parliamentarians, adding that they have been directed to renew their policy in this regard.
A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee for Rules and Procedures was held with Chaudhry Asad Rehman in the chair at the Parliament House. The committee summoned video footage and other details of Ramesh Kumar incidents from PIA officials.
Sheikh Aftab expressed his incapability in the meeting saying that ministers and MNAs are “powerless in front of PIA officials”.
PPP MNA Imran Zafar Leghari recorded his protest over Sheikh Aftab’s statement, stating that for the first time, PIA officials were not responding to the ministers. He was of the opinion that PIA MD and Civil Association secretary are looking more powerful than ministers.
MNA Shagufta Jamali said, “The appointments of PIA MD and Civil Association secretary were made against merit as a part of a plan to privatise it and hand it over to Mansha Group. PIA is in the worst condition. An FIR should be registered in the Ramesh Kumar incident inquiring as to why he was boarded out from the flight.” She was of the opinion that parliamentarians are fearful of travelling via the nation flag carrier.
In a reply, Sheikh Aftab said that the government does not have any such plan as the premier does not want to “earn bad name by doing such acts”.
