Alleged harassment of women employees: Supreme Court asks PIA chief to file reply

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from Managing Director Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on alleged harassment of a woman employee at the hands of male employees of the national flag carrier.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing of a suo motu case against irregularities in PIA in response to a constitutional petition filed by PML-N leader Marvi Memon who had urged the court to investigate the affairs of the airline to determine corruption and mismanagement on the part of PIA.
Captain Rifat Haye (working for the national flag carrier) filed a Civil Miscellaneous Application (CMA) in the main suo moto case of irregularities in PIA, and appeared in-person during the proceedings. She accused male PIA employees of subjecting her to extreme contempt and severe intimidation and harassment since she began her career.
She contended that in spite of her repeated complaints to the concerned forum her grievances were not taken into account and that she was ultimately forced to file an application with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Women Development.
She further told the bench that Standing Committee vide its report on March 31, 2010 discovered that Captain Tariq Khoso, flight inspector, had not only harassed her but also other female PIA employees at different times and was aided and facilitated by Captain Kaleem Chughtai, another employee of PIA, to sexually harass her.
Captain Rifat Haywe further informed the court that she had also filed a petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) against PIA management, CAA, Captain Tariq Khoso and Captain Kaleem Chughtai for professional victimisation and harassment. The LHC had directed the flight inspector not to subject her to any illegal harassment and directed PIA management to take appropriate steps on the report of the NA Standing Committee on Women Development.
She maintained that despite that High Court judgement and directions of the NA Standing Committee, she continued to be victimised and harassed in PIA and the Managing Director PIA has not taken any actions against the male employees yet. The bench directed Managing Director PIA to appear before the court on March 14 and submit his reply in the instant matter.
Earlier, the petitioner, Marvi Memon, also filed a CMA in the main petition and attached news clippings from different dailies pertaining to the illegal appointments in Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). During the hearing, Raja Bashir, the counsel for the PIA told the court he was informed that Attorney General would appear before the court on behalf of Chairman PIA to submit a reply. The court adjourned the hearing till March 14.