LHC Extends Stay On Lahore Airport Outsourcing

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2017 ) : The Lahore High Court on Thursday extended stay on process to outsource management control of Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore, till July 5.

LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed the orders while hearing petitions filed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) employees and others challenging outsourcing of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports.

However, the chief justice during a previous hearing had made it clear that the High Court had the jurisdiction to take up the case of Lahore airport only. The court stayed process to outsource management control of Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore and sought comments from all respondents, on last hearing.

The CAA through a law officer submitted its comments today but privatisation commission sought time to file reply. The court was also apprised that the CAA did not file comments in a connected plea.

At this, the court adjourned further hearing till July 5 and extended stay with a direction to respondents to file their comments. The petitioners had submitted that the Civil Aviation Act did not allow outsourcing or privatisation of the airports for being sensitive premises.

They said the airports were used for emergency landing of Air Force planes during the war situation and outsourcing the airports would amount to risk national security. They asked the court to restrain the government from outsourcing of the airports.