Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Air Marshal Arshad Malik Thursday prayed to the apex court to set aside Sindh High Court order dated 23-12-2019 and stay further proceedings regarding the matter till final disposal of his appeal.

The Sindh High Court in December 2019 restrained Air Marshal Arshad Malik from carrying out any function as the CEO PIA till January 22. It had issued notices to Air Marshal Arshad Malik and the federal government for January 22, 2020.

A two-member bench of SHC in its order had also restrained chief human resource officer and the airline's board of directors, through its chairman/CEO, from carrying out any function as well as encumbering or disposing of assets of the national flag carrier valued over Rs 10 million.

Air Marshal Arshad Malik had been a nominated Director PIA since October 17, 2018. He was elected as acting CEO on October 26, 2018 and was appointed regular CEO w.e.f. April 26, 2019 as per PSC Guidelines 2015. Before joining PIA, Air Marshal Malik was Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

In his petition, Malik stated that negotiations for export of planes were conducted by him with Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Egypt, Argentine and Nigeria with orders obtained from them later. Arshad Malik also stated that he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Personnel) for a year, dealing with human resources issues, both of civilians and serving Air Force employees. This assignment included HR Planning and Career Profession Development of the entire Human Resources of the PAF, all over Pakistan.

Malik said that till deputed to PIA, he was the Vice Chief of PAF looking after the PAF budget, flight safety, training institutes and media affairs.

Safdar Anjum had challenged Arshad Malik's appointment in the SHC. It is his stance that Malik was a senior serving officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and his appointment as the PIA chief was made in utter disregard of law laid down by the apex court in its Aug 3, 2018 judgement against the appointment of the then CEO.