Sindh High Court (SHC) has restrained the Board of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from carrying out any functions while hearing a petition, seeking to declare the appointment of Air Marshall Arshad Mehmood Malik as Chief Executive Officer (CEP) of the national airline illegal and unconstitutional.

A division bench of SHC Justice Zaulfiqar Ahmed Khan and Justice Madam Kausar Sultan issued the directives in a written order in response to a petition, filed by Muhammad Safdar Anjam, a member of association of employees of PIA.

Cabinet Division, Aviation Ministry, PIA, Air Marshall Arshad Mahmood Malik, CEO PIA, Board of PIA through its Chairman, CEO and others were made respondents in the petition.

Order stated that counsel for the petitioner also pointed out that the respondent (Arshad Mahmood Malik) is making huge financial decisions that might encumber or charge valuable assets of the corporation and may result in selling.

Counsel for petitioner urged the court to restrain CEO PIA from carrying out any functions and operations in his capacity as CEO including but not limited to appointments, terminations, transfers, procurement and policy making etc. The Court ordered to issue notices to respondents for January 22, 2019 and restrained the board of PIA from carrying out any functions.