ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the managing director of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) directing him to appear before in person and clarify his stance over the issue of women’s victimisation and sexual harassment in the entity.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed was hearing a case pertaining to mismanagement, corruption and nepotism in the national flag carrier.

The court issued notices to the PIA MD when Captain Riffat Hayee submitted before the bench an application requesting the court to include her as a party in the case, enabling her to tell about the victimisation and sexual harassment of women staffers by some of the PIA officers.

Hayee told the court that she had submitted many applications, on the mater, to the concerned officials but no action had been taken and that was why she had decided to become a party in the case.

She said any employee who raises voice against the management is victimised, adding that she herself was an example to the professional victimisation.

The captain said she was forced to sit at home for over a year, saying the atmosphere for women was not suitable in the PIA.

To a court query, she said she had submitted many applications to the officials regarding the harassment and victimisation, however no application had been considered.

Raja Bashir Ahmed, counsel for PIA, told the court that Attorney General Irfan Qadir was engaged with the PIA chairman, as he would appear on next hearing on his behalf. He also sought time for preparation, which the court allowed and adjourned the hearing to March 14.