ISLAMABAD; The Supreme Court of Pakistan has vacated a stay order issued by the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the dismissal of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employee accused of using a fake degree.
The apex court also directed the national flag carrier to resume departmental proceedings against the employee, Nadim Lodhi.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, and comprising Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, heard the federal government’s appeal.
The Chief Justice remarked, “You’ve been running on a stay order for 10 years. We are withdrawing it. Prepare your case.”
The Additional Attorney General Mohsin Shahwani informed the court that Lodhi was hired as an associate engineer based on a fake academic degree. He was issued a show-cause notice by PIA and subsequently dismissed after the degree was found to be invalid.
However, Lodhi obtained a stay from the SHC in 2015, under which he not only continued in service but was also promoted to Officer Grade-6.
The federal government challenged the SHC’s interim relief in the Supreme Court, which has now cleared the way for PIA to take disciplinary action based on merit.
