The ordinance seeks conversion of PIA into a company from a corporation by reverting the status of the national airlines as a statutory body that the opposition feared was a step towards privatisation. The opposition of the ordinance was initiated by the PPP, ANP, MQM, PML-Q and Jamaat-e-Islami. It was backed by the PkMAP.
The Upper House passed a resolution moved by the PPP’s Saeed Ghani on behalf of 52 senators that led to repealing of the PIA Corporation (Conversion) Ordinance 2015 promulgated by the president on Dec 5.
The resolution was signed by 52 opposition senators, including Ahmed Hassan, Gianchand, Haji Saifullah Khan Bangash, Islamuddin Shaikh, Karim Ahmed Khawaja, Khanzada Khan, Mir Muhammad Yousaf Badini, Muhammad Yousaf, Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah, Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi, Osman Saifullah Khan, Abdul Rehman Malik, Saleem Mandviwala, Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hassani, Sheher Bano Sherry Rehman, Zaheeruddin Babar Awan, Aitzaz Ahsan, Farhatullah Babar, Farooq Hamid Naek, Rozi Khan Kakar, Taj Haider, Khalida Parveen, Rubina Khalid, Sassui Palijo, Sehar Kamran, Hari Ram, Naseema Ahsan, Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, Baz Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Daud Achakzai, Shahi Syed, Sitara Ayaz, Zahida Khan, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Kamil Ali Agha, Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, Rubina Irfan, Sirajul Haq, Col (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Hidayatullah, Malik Najmul Hassan, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Mohsin Aziz, Shibli Faraz, Muhammad Azam Swati, John Kenneth Williams, Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Samina Abid, Taj Muhammad Afridi and Nasreen Jalil.
The resolution stated: “This House disapproves the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Ordinance, 2015. (ordinance no. xvii of 2015).”
