ISLAMABAD, May 16: The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench on Friday suspended the operation of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) management order, terminating the services of 25 contractual employees who had approached the Federal Services Tribunal for regularisation of their contractual employment.

Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq, on a petition filed through Advocate Abdul Ghani Chaudhry, called for a report from PIAC and suspended the operation of termination order dated 30.4.2003.

When the passenger service assistants approached the FST, in the light of the LHC judgment in which it had said that all those who had worked for 180 days service had become regular employees, the General Manager Human Resources of PIAC directed all administration managers to not extend the service period after 30.4.2003 of those who were in litigation.

The petitioners approached the LHC apprehending formal termination of their services. The court, however, disposed of the petition with the observation that apprehension of removal from service of the petitioners was not correct and directed PIAC to act in accordance with law.

When their services were terminated, they again approached the Lahore High Court, saying that their apprehension was correct.