PESHAWAR: Advocate Hastam Khan has submitted a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), challenging the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The petition argues that handing a state institution to a private entity admits government failure. Furthermore, the petitioner contends that the government ignored the “actual owners”—the Pakistani people—before making this decision.
The petition names the president, the prime minister, and the finance secretary as respondents. The Arif Habib Group is also a party to the case. The petitioner requests the court to declare the privatization null, void, and unconstitutional. Additionally, the plea seeks all records related to the process for judicial scrutiny.
PIA Profit in Fiscal Year 2024: PIA Records Rs9.3bn Profit, Signals Turnaround
Ownership and Constitutional Violations
The federal government reportedly sold PIA to the Arif Habib Group without proper legal authorization. The petitioner maintains that national assets belong to the citizens. Therefore, selling them without public consent constitutes a gross misuse of authority. Government representatives act only as trustees of state property. They do not own the assets and cannot sell them at throwaway prices.
The writ alleges that the respondents violated their official oaths. It also cites breaches of several constitutional clauses. The move is described as an illegal exercise of power. Public assets should not be discarded without prior permission from the populace.
Why are Pakistan’s national institutions now up for sale?
Claims of Governance Failure
The petition offers a stern critique of state administrative capacity. It posits that the government is incompetent if it cannot manage PIA effectively. Consequently, the petitioner suggests dissolving the assembly. This would allow capable representatives to protect state property with transparency.
Moreover, the writ alleges that the Federation violated various Articles of the Constitution. It emphasizes that leaders are “servants of the people.” They must act strictly in the public interest because no one is above the law.
School Privatisation In KP: Govt Decide to Hands Over 1,500 Schools to Private Sector
Demand for Transparency
Every state agreement must be transparent enough to withstand public objection. The petitioner has approached the Peshawar High Court, as no other legal forum is available. The PHC holds the jurisdiction to settle such critical constitutional matters.
Finally, the petition urges the court to strike down the privatization of the national flag carrier. It demands that the government present the complete record of the deal before the bench.
