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The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday declared the appointment of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Musharraf Rasool Cyan as null and void, citing a "violation of guidelines during his appointment procedure".
A three-member bench of the SC, under Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar's stewardship, gave the verdict while hearing two separate PIA-related cases: one on Dr Cyan's appointment and another on the national carrier's audit.
The PIA officers' association had challenged Cyan's appointment in the apex court, while the Auditor General of Pakistan had also recommended Cyan's immediate sacking after terming his appointment an “irregular favour”.
"According to initial reports, CEO Musharraf Rasool Cyan's appointment was not in accordance with the law," Justice Ijazul Ahsan told Cyan's attorney, Naeem Bukhari, today.
"Sardar Mehtab Abbasi was a party to the appointment," Justice Ahsan observed, to which the chief justice added: "Cyan has been the personal secretary of Abbasi as well."
"Was Musharraf Rasool interviewed by the board?" Justice Ahsan questioned.
"When the foundation is wrong, the entire building collapses."
Cyan's attorney told the SC bench that the case has already been dealt with by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). "The IHC had sent the matter to the cabinet," Bukhari recalled.
"We set aside the IHC's decision," the chief justice countered.
"Such organisations should have capable and competent persons. Now, good people should come and set things right."
Regarding Abbasi, the former adviser to the PM on aviation affairs who was involved in Cyan's appointment, Justice Nisar said that he "respects Sardar Mehtab Abbasi as a politician" but wondered why he was given "the rein to run such a big organisation".
Comments (64) Closed
excellent move
Excellent decision by SC, and please now take similar actions and get rid of incompetent and 'safarishis' recruited in other institutions. We don't want black sheep holding important jobs in politics, bureaucracy and security services - it is time to clear rotten wood and our mess across the abroad!
It seems like Everything in Pakistan is settled in Court, then why form Government and other Institutions.
Make the CJP the PM of the country also
Fantastic! Justice and merit must prevail. Check first all organasions heads and then make them accountable for all the key positions in their organisations. Make it easy to challenge such things.
His appointment was an “irregular favour” - sheer cronyism this. He was personal secretary of Abbasi and Abbasi will sabotage anything to promote his own Air Blue!
Great move, however more cleanup is required. Only merit should prevail
cheif justic mian saqib nisar is a great man & hi is hard worker
@GHALIBJEEE - It maybe different in your country but this is what the courts do, to provide justice where there is a wrongdoing!
@Harmony-1©: The courts are supposed to have no eyes, ears and sentiments of their own. They only work on the books of law and the cases presented on them in black and white plus deliberations as per law.
Disappointing move. Regardless of how he was appointed, the guy had the vision and business like acumen needed to turn PIA around. Now PIA will go back to people who have aviation experience but no experience in how to run the airline.
I have seen Cyan's interview's and I believe in what he syas and what his vision is.
Wrong move by SC
tHE FOUNDATION may have been wrong but Cyan was strengthening the foundation not weakening it.....
Excellent decision. Please recover 280 million from ex MD of PTV and send him to jail. Age should not be a consideration in these cases because they are fit to loot and plunder but sick to serve sentence.
CJ Saqib Nisar has taken wonder step. More such steps need to be taken. Stronger judiciary is better for the best running of democracy. It does need to keep on government's action.
Every bright student with glowing track record in academics cannot be master of all trades. Natural aptitude is necessary for success in a particular assignment which can only be ascertained from the varied and diversified experience in the targeted field.
@GHALIBJEEE . Yes true cos your previous government what has done to this country some is doing the damage control. Thanks to Mian sahib and his clan .
Great, correct and true decision by the wonderful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and his dedicated peers, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Hopefully, PIA can perform better now and bring back it's past glorious days when it was by far, one of the best Airlines in South Asia.
Good one...
Nice move the once flagship airline has become the worst and we need to rebuild
Great job SC!
We are on right path with great leaders and very competent judges. Please keep it up. Chief justice is making the job of IK bit easier. Salute to all of them
@GHALIBJEEE when government tried to sack some person courts give stay and person complete his tenure and most of time decision still pending
Please file a case and arrest those, who are involved in appointment. As in future no one dares to appoint without merit and illegal candidates.
A first step. Second step is to hold him and those who gave him the job responsible for the losses PIA suffered. Third step is to do away with all top management teams and hire professional people. Fourth would be to cut the "dead meat" so to speak.
CJP is Superman of Pakistan, who sets everything right. Way to go...
@GHALIBJEEE cleaning 70 year political mess is not easy and it requires third party interventions until this mess is cleared
The same bench is requested to investigate into the hiring of CEO of Water and sanitation services company (WSSP) of peshwar. He has been hired on political refence and he is involved in hiring own relatives in the company. On the same time he is performing duty in another company. He draws money from exchequer in millions. If he isn't immediately investigated, I am sure he will give loss in billions to the company and tge national exchequer.
Appointment of Ali Jehangir Siddique resembles. Shah Mehmood Qureshi please respond .
Move seems Pakistani sifarishi folks want be able survive IA Great CJ looking for more such severe decisions
@Shah
Losses were minimised under his leadership. Losses were done by previous ppl. He increased sales revenue by 7%
Please recover all salaries paid to illegally appointed CEO from those who appointed him.
The best option is to deploy people with aviation experience and proven track record in top positions.
It must be understood that aviation sector of Pakistan, in particular on international routes, is labor based. This has made the market extremely price sensitive in a highly commoditized environment.
Following measures must be taken to optimize revenues.
Expand distribution channel beyond the traditional agency network to include B2B, B2C platforms and portals for maximum visibility.
Reduce cost of sales.
Highly active revenue management in line with market competition and micro level seasonality.
Explore 5th and 6th freedom travel on other carriers and initiate point-point flights where demand is substantial.
Re-develop PIA's own reservation system REPAK and do away with SABRE in order to save billions of rupee annually.
@GHALIBJEEE That is exactly the reason, PML(N) government ran the country like charity organization doling out favors to their cronies. No government institution was functioning and the only hope was if the SC takes a Suo Motto
"We set aside IHC verdict"..just like that? Serious need to rethink judicial process in this country
The era of favoritsm and nepotism is finally coming to an end!
Get rid of all dead-wood who were appointed due to political affiliations and favors. PIA payroll should be trimmed by at least 50% to save the company.
Another proof of previous govt.'s corruption.
Thank you CJP for the verdict PIA must be saved.
The point is not to support person or another or this Govt or Previous but to empower department in such a way that it has its own check and balances.
Their is a very old saying that Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
It takes time to raise a dead elephant. He alone cannot fix everything with the existing corrupt PIA employees, who are robbing it blind. All PIA directors retire as multi millionaires. Is NAB and SC going after them too. I dont think so.
Why just this particular post is null and void only? There are many such appointees e.g Governor SBP, various other officers at federal and provincial level. All should be replaced.
Great going CJP
Supreme court should order this man to be made CEO of Air Blue .
Please make PIA Great again, we want to travel in our national carrier everywhere proudly.
A PIA insider once mentioned to me that Sardar Mehtab Abbasi had no clue. Apparently he did not know the difference between a plane and a helicopter. I thought the guy was kidding, it appears not!
We need to retain this CJP, get General Raheel Sheriff back and IK for the next two terms to get Pakistan and it's people into ship shape!
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani I most vehemently support your well founded comments main cause of the country’s bleeding wounds, caused due political patronage & appointing merit less people as heads of important institutions. It is heartening to note that the PIA Officer Association, being whistle blower, objected to this political placement. This change in the attitude of employees of an organization suffering constant criticism of bad service & causing losses worth billions to govt. exchequer, is most welcomed & others should follow suit. The govt. must carry out much needed excercise in downsizing PIA’s non technical labor force which twice in number than required as per industry standards. Most of these employees being political appointees, are a financial burden to the smooth operation of the national carrier. I hope that IK being no nonsense person, will make changes in PIA & bring back its golden days of glory in late Air Marshal Noor Khan times, of being one of the best airline
What initially three months IK has asked to show some improvements will not be enough as past two governments have ran Pakistan down to a total disasterous route. All politicians for the past governments must be brought to a total accountability without prejudice. We are because of Pakistan.
the chief justice deserve kudos
@GHALIBJEEE , 100% correct
He should return his salaries and other incentives
SC should take charge of Fed public service commission so as every appointment is legally approved..... What a role of SC....
Good decision.
A retired judge should be appointed as CEO as only this community is capable to hold such posts,practical examples care taker prime minister,chief election commissioner, head if missing persons commission excellent jobs done.the real pictures are available in the courts where readers are doing business in the presence of judges.naya pakistan zindabad
V good! A lecturer with zero experience in avaition should not be a head of an airline company.
A great idea. CJP take over PIA under supreme court, run it like your court room.
Person who elected him should be identified and punished.
Finish all seat quota for all departments in PIA seats assisnment.Most of plane are half empty due to this reserve quotas and ticket paying passengers cannot get the seats. Also no free travel for anyone till PIA becomes profitable .
A capable man is out of a job over politics. PIA is the loser, not him.
Government sponsored corporations would continue to go in red when appointments at the top as well at lower tiers are made on political basis. There should be a strict system of check and balances on the working of these corporations.
@GHALIBJEEE that’s how governments work...checks and balances are created by different branches of government. CJP is correcting the ills of the previous corrupt leadership and nothing wrong with that.
It is about time to make such decisions based on favoritism, Now let's get the Ambassador to the United States as soon as possible as he is incompetent and was assigned only few days before the previous Prime Minister left the office. SC AND IK SHOULD NAKE A QUICK DECISION.
At least we have some accountability and things will get better if we bring competent folks to do their job like it is meant to.
Sardar Mehtab Abbasi should also be held accountable and be punished financially.
around 1400 cases/ stay ordered pending at different lower courts by PIA Employees against their own organization. SCP should address this issue first instead of removing CEO after six month.
Great gesture but daily corruption at courts needs immediate attention. CJP and his inspection team should randomly visit courts throughout Pakistan and provide Justice.