Shujaat Azeem resigns as PM’s Aviation Adviser

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Adviser on Aviation Affairs, Shujaat Azeem on Monday resigned from his post, paving the way for the Supreme Court to issue an independent verdict on his appointment being challenged by PIA pilots’ union.

An apex court bench had barred him from carrying on with his duties in response to the petition filed by pilots’ union against his appointment last week.

According to a spokesman of the aviation division, Azeem has sent his resignation to the Prime Minister Secretariat. Shujaat Azeem had accepted the ‘honorary post’ on the PM’s insistence, said the spokesman, adding that he was not even drawing any salary also.

Azeem will defend accusations against him in individual capacity in the court, said the spokesman.

This is not the first time when Azeem finds himself in these circumstances as he had to leave the same office after the Supreme Court questioned his dual nationality and court martial history in 2013.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.