LAHORE - The members of Senate Standing Committee for Defence lost their temper when the PIA MD tried to win them over by offering them expensive watches before they took proceedings against the theft of over 1100 in-flight trolleys in the Airlines, sources in the PIA revealed on Wednesday. The sources claimed that the Committee members had grilled the MD over the theft of 1100 lightweight alloy metal in-flight trolleys, which were made according to ICAO specifications, and were being used for passenger service during the flights. It may be mentioned that each trolley valued between $550 and $750. The sources claimed that PIA MD Capt Ijaz Haroon during the inquiry was not clear about the number and value of the trolleys and told the Committee that the number of stolen trolleys was 800 and each trolley cost $440. He also told the Committee that those responsible had been taken to task and certain people involved in the theft had also been sacked. It is alleged that the staff of PIA Stores, Flight Kitchen and TGS were involved in the disappearance of trolleys, which were sold through third party to other airlines in Karachi and Manchester. The Committee members also questioned the MD over the political appointments made in the PIA, and the state of decadence because of the corruption endemic to such state-owned corporations. It should also be noted that the PIA has the highest number of employees as compared to other aircrafts in the world. In PIA there are 434 employees per aircraft while in India this number is 276 and in the US 120. The Committee asked the MD to terminate the services of political appointees immediately. Upon which the MD informed the Committee that the PIA management was already thinking about reducing the number of employees appointed abroad on political basis. The management hired a senior executive on a fabulous contract salary of $25,000 per month payable in Dubai, without tax deduction for the post of DMD, who sits in PIA head office located in Karachi, in violation of FBR rules relating to income tax and State Bank of Pakistan rule that salary can only be paid in Pakistan currency for jobs located in Pakistan. The DMD hired on contract had previously served as sales engineer for General Electric aircraft engine manufacturing unit. His contract entitles him to free accommodation, free medical and first class travel facility for his family located in Dubai. The DMD by coincidence belongs to the Memon Biradri to which the MD himself belongs. The DMD is also entitled to 3 months gross salary as gratuity for each year of service, payable in dollars without any tax deduction. When contacted, spokesman of the Airlines said that it was a baseless news and the PIA MD never offered costly watches to the Committee members rather the agenda of the meeting was gifts presented to the business class passengers by the PIA. For this reason the PIA officials took the watches with them that were only to show to the Committee and not to be presented to them. He clarified that the watches were of very low price. He also maintained that there was no political appointee in the PIA.