KARACHI: The management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIAC) is completely deaf and dumb in performing its lawful responsibilities, especially with reference to the judicial orders. One such example is the case of Iqbal Khan, a PIA employee illegally dismissed under the fake degree scandal.

The CEO PIA is flouting the order issued by Sindh High Court judge Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui on 11-03-2022 with directions that the appeal of Iqbal Khan shall be heard and decided expeditiously, preferably in three months' time after service of notice. However, even after a lapse of about 10 months, PIA management has not bothered to solve his unemployment case.

Iqbal Khan was dismissed from PIA service on the allegations of having submitted a fake degree. He was engaged in service in pursuance of an advertisement of 1989 as an apprentice mechanic/ technician having an intermediate certificate, however, in addition therewith only a mark sheet of Part-II B.Sc. as being failed was presented but it had nothing to do with the required credentials. Though he had a master's degree in Islamic Studies, however, such was never presented as being not an issue for considering his appointment.

A show-cause notice was originally contested by him by filing a suit however, no substantial relief was availed by him and consequently, he received a dismissal order from service on 12-11-2019. He had already filed an appeal against such a dismissal order under PIACL Regulations 1985. There was no rational reason provided in the dismissal order as to why he would submit a forged and fabricated degree of B.Sc. when it was never required at the time of his appointment.

Such points required consideration but since he had surrendered himself to the jurisdiction of the appellate authority of the department available to him at the relevant time under the Regulations, it would be the appellate authority that is supposed to give its finding, especially on this defense taken by the appellant that there was no necessity or requirement under the advertisement to submit bachelor degree i.e., B.Sc. at the relevant time though he conceded that he presented a mark sheet of the second year B.Sc. wherein he failed.

With the above understanding and as not opposed, the suit filed by Iqbal Khan was disposed of by the Sindh High Court judge Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui on 11-03-2022 with directions that the appeal of Iqbal Khan, as presented on 09-09-2019 and is still pending, be heard and decided strictly in accordance with the law, especially considering the aforesaid defense whether the said degree was essential for the service that was applied for at the time when the advertisement was made in the year 1989 and if not its effect after taking into account ratio of the order dated 23-02-2021 in C.P No.D-5878 of 2019. The appellate authority is expected to hear the plaintiff and give a decision strictly in accordance with the law. It is expected that the appellate authority shall hear and decide the appeal expeditiously, preferably in three months' time after service of notice, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui concluded. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 04 2023

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