ISLAMABAD: Ejaz Haroon, an engineer by profession, joined Pakistan International Airline (PIA) in 80s.He served the national flag carrier for over three decades .
Ejaz Haroon became close to PPP supremo and former president, Asif Ali Zardari , in the last tenure of PPP (2008-2013).
Since Ejaz Haroon, being a cunning man, knew the art of ‘serving’ his master for his preferential personal gains, , soon became the most trusted pygmy of Asif Ali Zardari in the national airline.
Asif Ali Zardari, who has no parallel in using his shrimps for financial and ‘other ‘benefits threw his full confidence in Ejaz Haroon and appointed him to the post of PIA managing director in 2009.
Ejaz Haroon enjoyed this position till 2011 when the employees of the national flag carrier refused to accept him as their boss any more and started protest against him. He was finally made.to leave MD.office disgracefully.
Ejaz Haroon proved himself a loyal servant to his master .. Asif Ali Zardari …and his other associates and provided them all “types’ of best ‘services’ as PIA managing director.
His tenure (2009-2011) as PIA managing director was the worst period for the national flag carrier.
“This was the period when anyone could get job as pilot in PIA by paying Rs 5 million”, a PIA senior employee, who spoke out on the condition of not disclosing his name , said in his informal talk to NEWSMAN.
Accrding to the employee, majority of fake pilots and other unqualified employees made entry in PIA during Ejaz Haroon’s period as managing director (2009-2011).
The PIA employee said “Today PIA has been devastated by fake pilots issue and its responsibility rests with Ejaz Haroon”. “He ,as managing director, preferred money over national interest and put jobs and contracts of the national airline on sale”, another source in PIA said
Ejaz Haroon has literally turned PIA into a corruption hub and for the same reasons its employees stood against him in 2011 and forced him to resign as managing director in 2011, the PIA source concluded.
Ejaz Haroon was arrested on charges of corruption, accumulating assets beyond declared source of income and misusing his official authority to make unlawful appointments in PIA on October 17, 2020.
Saleem Silani’s appointment in PIA against irrational salary and other perks and privileges is its typical example.
Hanif Pathan , PIA director Human Reaources’ too has been arrested for his role in fake recruitments in PIA and having assets beyond his declared source of income.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating Ejaz Haroon and Hanif Pathan on these serious charges.
Sources in FIA said Ejaz Haroon has accepted his role in unlawful hirings in PIA , besides disclosing 3many other characters involved directly and indirectly in PIA corruption. The sources hinted at more arrests in this connection in coming days.