The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought replies from federal government and ministry of privatisation within three weeks in response to a petition challenging the proposed privatisation of Pakistan International Airline (PIA). The court directed a law officer to ensure submission of the replies on behalf of the respondents along with convincing reasons for the privatisation of PIA.

The petitioner, Nabeel Javed, alleged that the government had decided to privatize the PIA and was going to sell it to a company of own choice. He said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who also owned a private airline in the country had vested interests in the privatisation of the PIA.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018