KARACHI: The Managing Director of Pakistan International Airlines, Junaid Yunus, has `gone on leave` and Director (corporate planning) Shahnawaz Rehman has been given the additional responsibility of looking after his job on a temporary basis.

PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar told Dawn that the MDhad proceeded on annual leave which would end on Aug 7. Mr Rehman has been appointed acting managing director.

But, PIA Pilots Association President Amir Hashmi insisted that Mr Yunus had been `forced` to go on leave `without any obvious reason` Because of his sudden departure, Mr Hashmi said, a sense of uncertainty prevailed among employees.