July 03, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1429

KARACHI, July 2: The Sindh High Court bench comprising Justices Yasmin Abbasy and Bin Yamin on Wednesday advised the union of Civil Aviation Administration employees to first agitate its grievance before the National Industrial Relations Commission.

Gohar Iqbal submitted on behalf of the petitioner union that it was as a consequence of the legal battle waged by the union and its chief, Zaheeruddin Babar, that trade union activity was restored in the CAA. The aviation authorities were now trying to exclude the union from the referendum for collective bargaining agent. The NIRC was seized of the matter but the petitioner needed urgent relief, he said.

The bench issued notices in another petition moved by Mohammad Saleem Akhtar, officiating director for air traffic management of the CAA against his supersession by two junior officers. He alleged that the CAA high-ups were indulging in favouritism in disregard of both seniority and competence. He said he joined the CAA as aerodrome officer through the Federal Public Service Commission in 1981. He was now being ignored for promotion after about 27 years of meritorious service, during which he won a number of distinctions.