Source: The News International

A person believed to be a close relativeí of caretaker prime minister Muhammadmian Soomro is understood to be in the run for a lucrative position in the national airline in a deal that has raised many eyebrows, The News has learnt. Sources close to the family claim that the person in question, Janat Soomro, is a niece of the prime minister and is not suitably qualified for the job. However, she has clarified that she is neither related to the PM nor has any kind of connection†with him and has expressed ignorance that such an appointment is being made.

At the same time, the manner in which the appointment is being made and the response being given by relevant quarters suggests that everything is not as it seems. Some officials have privately said that she is being appointed by Pakistan International Airline (PIA) to a post she is not qualified for.

Ms Janat Soomro, who is a BA and works with the German airline Lufthansa, is being considered for the post of a deputy general manager, a position normally given to officers who have spent 20 years in service.

“The file of this particular case is with the general manager (appointments) and is being kept highly confidential,” an official of the national carrier has revealed. This move comes in direct contradiction to the corporate and transparent culture that the new PIA chief, Zafar Ahmed Khan, claims he is bringing to the airline.

“Office talk suggests that a senior officer in HR (Human Resource) who retires next March may get an extension in exchange for ensuring this appointment,” added a PIA official. Needless to say, many officials who are in line for a DGM appointment are upset about the move.

While The News has repeatedly contacted PIA, the airline has refrained from giving any comment on the subject. At the same time, as the story was leaked, officials privately said that the appointment had been put on hold “for the time being”.

As such, the appointment does not contravene the company rules. As per the PIAC Ordinance (1956), the corporation can appoint “any such officers, advisers and employees as it considers necessary for the efficient performance of its functions on such terms and conditions as it may see fit.”

However, DGM, a corporate designation of grade 9, is usually not advertised in newspapers as normally officers of Grade 8 are given shoulder promotions to the position. “But to be promoted to DGM, one needs to join the organisation as an officer of at least Grade 5,” a general manager divulged.

On her part, Ms Soomro who is a sales manager in Lufthansa, says she has no idea about the said appointment nor has she heard of the position being offered to her. “Nor am I aware why my appointment, if any, would have any connection with the extension in tenure of any senior vice president,” she said in a written reply to The News.

According to her, she has worked in the travel industry for over 18 years and joined Lufthansa on September 1, 1989. Since then she has worked with the airline in Karachi, Dubai and Bahrain. “In this period, I have been extensively trained as part of a management trainee programme at Lufthansa headquarters and other locations around the world.”

She also clarified that she was not related to the PM. “I wonder why this malicious campaign is being conducted against me since I have no political or personal connections with anyone and I am not related to the acting prime minister in any way. Yes, I am a Soomro but I come from lower Sindh and considering that the Soomro tribe is nearly a million strong, the assumption that I may be his relative is a bit far-fetched.”

She further said: “I hope when and if I am hired by anyone, it will be based on my merit, extensive training and experience.”

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Tags: pakistan PM, PIA, soomro