The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of petition of Advocate Zulfiqar Bhutta against the increase in air fares for Hajj and Umrah by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on receiving satisfactory reply from the chairman of the airline. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing the petition.
The reply submitted through the Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq denied all allegations of increase in airfare. The AGP contended that PIA used to increase its fare integrated to principle of revenue management like other airlines of the world. It was also pleaded that extensive travelling in Hajj and Ramazan season were major reasons of fare increase.
The court finding the reply satisfactory asked the petitioner to plead further if he desires but the petitioner Zulfiqar Bhutta failed to do so upon which the court disposed of the petition. Earlier, the court on Monday had directed the Chairman PIA to submit a detailed report regarding increase in airfares for Hajj and Umrah.