After removing more than 300 employees from service, allegedly for having fake degree, Pakistan International Airlines appear reluctant to book them for fraud, it was learnt. According to sources, the national flag carrier removed these employees during the past few years and academic credentials of hundreds of others are being scrutinized. But none of them has been booked so far, for reasons best known to PIA, the sources.
The sources said that the majority of the sacked employees were appointed between the 1990s. They added that the PIA management caught another employee, who was serving as Khateeb/Mudeer, on a similar charge. He was appointed in 2010 on the recommendation of an influential religious political leader. The man had been enjoying undue benefits, including foreign trips, while serving as khateeb in a PIA mosque because he had powerful political connections, they said.
The sources said that PIA asked him to submit a written reply to defend his position. They said that his matriculation certificate, which he submitted at the time of his induction in PIA, was declared bogus by the board concerned. Replying to a question, the sources said that there were reports that he failed to defend his position in his reply and the PIA management was now considering departmental action against him. When contacted, a PIA spokesman confirmed that the show cause notice was issued to the person, saying that the airline management would take action against him in accordance with relevant rules.