Daily Times

Despite its exemplary legacy, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is now trapped in a turmoil of scandals. The latest arises as 42 of its employees are found to be serving even with fake degrees. No legal action seems to have been taken against them in spite of strict orders by the Supreme Court.

This scribe has learned that a total of 710 employees were recruited with fake degrees in the national carrier during its past tenure. The procured documents also noted that the administration has sacked over 467 employees, including pilots and crew staff, in the wake of the fake degrees scandal gaining momentum. Another 210 employees sought a legal stay in court.

Meanwhile, as many as 42 employees with fake degrees are still serving on various important designations in the PIA, according to the documents.

It should also be mentioned here that the airline’s new administration has recently fired 200 ghost daily-wage employees. These ghost employees were said to be hired by third parties while their salaries were paid from payroll of the national carrier.

A PIA spokesperson, who did not wish to be named, expressed his concerns regarding employees with fake degrees to Daily Times. He said that while the crackdown against the ghost employees during the last month was a good move, the 42 employees still working in the airline on a bogus status was a question on the transparency process initiated by the administration.

Previously, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation, Senator Mushahidullah Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had slammed the PIA CEO, Arshad Malik, in this regard. He had argued that terminating someone on a bogus status is an injustice to their families and the PIA should come up with a plan to lessen the suffering of the employees with a bogus record. Malik had then argued, “We have no other option as exemplary punishment is the only solution for turning PIA (into) a well reputed department.”

A source in National flag carrier told Daily Times that the administration is facing an immense pressure from the top brass from all-powerful circles, including the government as well as the opposition. This criticism is largely because of the status of the employees recruited despite having fake documents, which has resulted not only in financial losses but also a tarnished reputation for the airline in the international community.

“Influential people from various circles pressurizing the administration while not touching the 42 influential employees whose status is illegal and bogus while possessing fake degrees,”the source added.

While hearing Human Rights case No: 8645, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had categorically issued directives for verification of the degrees/certificates of PIACL cabin and cockpit Crew staff last year, which were said to be conveyed through Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCCA).

Daily Times tried to contact various stakeholders of the airline but could not procure any response.

Published in Daily Times, February 16^th 2019.