The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered to place the name of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Musharraf Rasool Cyan on exit control list (ECL). Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar issued these orders while hearing a case pertaining to replacement of national flag with endangered specie of Markhor on the PIA plane.
At the outset of the hearing, the Chief Justice asked the PIA chief to explain as to why an amount of Rs 3.4 million was spent on painting of the picture of Markhor on an aircraft instead of focusing on resources to improve the airline from inside. He asked if all employees of the national flag carrier have been paid their salaries, to which Cyan said the process of disbursement of salaries is under way.
He told the bench that even he hasn't received his salary yet. "We have been improving the airline as per your directives," he told the Chief Justice. The top judge asked the PIA chief if he tried to flee the country but was offloaded from a plane, to which the latter said there was no truth in the reports of his fleeing the country. At the previous hearing, the court was informed that redesigning of the planes will cost the airline Rs 2.7 million for each plane.
Upon this, the Chief Justice said the cost will be Rs 3.4 million, not Rs 2.7 million, and wondered if PIA is a profit-earning entity that a huge amount is being spent for the purpose. The CJP said the federal government has given Rs 20 billion bailout package to turn the airline into a profitable organization and not for placing the picture of the animal on the aircraft. The PIA chief said that only a single plane has been redesigned with Markhor on its tail.
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