- Justice Nisar expresses anger at Dr Musharraf Rasool Cyan over air safari, asks for passengers’ list
- CJP issues contempt notice to PIA CEO for using Markhor logo on planes
- Country’s top judge vows to protect citizens’ fundamental rights
KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe into the appointment and salary of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Dr Musharraf Rasool Cyan.
The chief justice, while hearing a case pertaining to the appointment of PIA’s CEO and the salary offered to him at the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry, said, “NAB should investigate the PIA CEO’s appointment and the salary and perks offered to him.”
He took notice of the difficulties faced by the passengers at Skardu airport after a “special PIA air safari” caused a four-hour delay to the Skardu-Islamabad flight on Tuesday.
Justice Nisar expressed anger at the PIA CEO’s action and directed NAB to probe his appointment and questioned Cyan regarding the list of passengers for the air safari.
“Who gave permission for the air safari?” CJP Nisar questioned the CEO, adding that, “there were 112 passengers on board that flight of which 42 were guests. Were airfares taken from those 42 guest passengers?” the CJP inquired.
Cyan responded saying that the 42 passengers were taken on the air safari free of cost and was directed to pay the airfare for these passengers from his salary.
“The ticket for the Islamabad-Skardu flight costs Rs12,300. These high airfares are damaging tourism,” Justice Nisar questioned and ordered the PIA CEO to review the airfare for this route.
A contempt of court notice was also issued to the PIA CEO for using Markhor logo on planes despite a court order barring them.
On Wednesday, NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javaid Iqbal took notice of media reports stating that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Hassan Baig, allegedly took a group of friends for a special tour of Nanga Parbat on a PIA plane scheduled for a flight.
It was reported that the plane flew these passengers to Nanga Parbat and that “the tour took place as passengers waited for the plane’s arrival at Skardu airport for their scheduled flight”.
As per reports, when the plane finally landed at Skardu airport after a delay of hours, passengers protested and lashed out at the DG CAA.
Baig, however, denied using a plane of the national carrier.
CJP TO HEAR CASES IN LAHORE FROM MONDAY:
The CJP, after concluding hearing of cases in Karachi on Sunday, will hear several public interest cases, mostly initiated as suo motu notices, at the Lahore Registry from Monday till the end of the week.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Nisar and comprising Justices Umar Ata Bandial and Ijazul Ahsan has been constituted to hear the important cases.
The cases to be heard by the bench in Lahore include those involving exorbitant fees of private medical colleges, disposal of hospital and sewage waste, air pollution, discharge of untreated waste by a chemical factory and lack of adequate healthcare facilities in Defence, according to media reports.
Moreover, the Lahore registry has notified that though July 25 has been declared a court holiday due to the general elections, the chief justice will be at the Supreme court in Lahore for hearing of any urgent cases.