DG Civil Aviation faces mutiny on boorish behaviour

ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, almost the entire senior management of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has revolted against its current Director General Air Marshal (R) Asim Suleiman for his alleged abusive behaviour calling him “mentally” unfit for the job.

In a letter written to the Secretary Aviation, a copy of which is available with The News, all the regular deputy director generals and directors have complained that they are being treated in “humiliating and abusive” manner so they will not offer any support to the director general.

PCAA not only manages all airports of the country but also monitors and regulates all civil aviation activities inside Pakistan. “We would not be taking insults anymore and would like to make it clear that no support of any kind shall be extended to the incumbent DGCAA,” says the letter signed by 15 top officers of the Authority and copied to the prime minister.

Describing their working condition as “inhuman”, the senior officers complained that they are abused in front of juniors and even the outsiders like contractors are not immune to abuse from the senior most official of the authority. “There is a complete absence of teamwork and initiative taking in the entire organisation. DGCAA reprimands all officers and staff of CAA by terming them as incompetent and unprofessional,” the letter says.

The letter claims that behaviour of DGCAA was abnormal thus he should undergo “psychometric assessment” along with medical check-up and treatment.

Such is the pressure of work in the authority, the letter adds, that several officers have

opted to proceed on medical leaves, some have passed away without reaching the age of superannuation and many are even planning to avail early retirement and other options to escape the on-going restive & depressive situation.

A senior official told The News that the director general has sidelined about eight senior officers of Grade-20 at a single station where only one officer of such seniority was required. He said this is the first time since its inception that PCAA is facing a mutiny.

When contacted, Air Marshal (R) Asim Suleiman acknowledged differences with his juniors but claimed that the officers were only reprimanded to improve their performance. “I have never asked for anything personal from these officers. All I want from them is to work honestly for the authority and for the country,” the DG Civil Aviation told The News.

“Yes may be I have been rough at times but it was only to improve the performance of the authority,” he said, adding that he himself worked very hard during last two years and only took six days-off during his entire tenure.

He claimed that four new airports have been built or reconstructed during his tenure which has no previous precedent in PCAA history. “Islamabad Airport is ready for inauguration while extension work is underway in Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta which will be completed within next six months. This kind of performance needs discipline and hard work which is all I demand.”

He mentioned that CAA profit has increased by 7 to 8 billion this year despite construction of new airports while a state-of-the-art radar network is being placed in the country to improve air-traffic regulation.

DG PCCA claimed that he is only head of the authority in its history who was appointed purely on basis of merit.

When asked why the entire senior management is against him he claimed that half of the officers have been forced to revolt against him. He said he would speak to the Secretary Aviation about the grievances expressed by senior management and would present his point of view during his meeting.

Asim Suleiman was appointed on the current post in November 2015 and he is scheduled to complete his three-year term by the end of next year.