Court seeks PIA’s written stance
In Islamabad on Thursday, Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCCP) — a top court that hears constitutional matters — told Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to put its position on record in a dispute about healthcare for people who have retired from the carrier. A two-judge panel led by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi ordered that filing and then paused the case until the airline answers.
The immediate issue before the bench was whether, and how, PIA should keep supporting medical needs after staff leave service. No final ruling on benefits was announced; the court first wants PIA’s formal reply.
Compassion urged, misuse flagged
Justice Rizvi said the national carrier ought to honour those who worked for it when the airline was at its strongest. He stressed that veterans should be treated with care and that their plea deserves a humane reading, not a cold brush-off.
At the same time, he accepted that abuse of healthcare schemes has hurt public bodies. Speaking to lawyers, he said anyone who cheated the system should face firm consequences. He recalled earlier abuse in which non-medical goods — including perfume — were billed as treatment spending.
What PIA’s lawyer told the bench
Counsel for the airline said controls now apply to the medical arrangement. Under the older setup, cover went up to Rs250,000; that yearly ceiling, he told the court, stands at Rs500,000.
Justice Rizvi again pressed for a compassionate approach to retirees while the paperwork moves forward. The next step on the record is PIA’s response; further dates will follow once that filing is in.
Aasan alfaaz mein
FCCP ne PIA se kaha ke retired mulazimeen ke medical faide ke case mein apna jawab likh kar dein. Judge ne kaha ke airline purane staff ko nazarandaz na kare aur insani bunyad par sochay. Saath hi unhon ne fraud aur ghalat istimal ke khilaf sakhti ka bhi zikr kiya. PIA ke wakeel ke mutabiq ab saalana had Rs500,000 hai — pehle Rs250,000 thi — lekin faisla abhi aakhri nahi, pehle jawab aana hai.
