Advisor to the prime minister on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan is going to decide the fate of Director General of Air Marshal (R) Asim Suleman, as the revolt against his heavy-handedness has turned into an ugly crisis. The crisis started when in an unprecedented move, almost the entire senior management of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) revolted against Air Marshal (Retd.) Asim Suleiman for his alleged abusive behaviour calling him “mentally” unfit for the job.Sardar Mehtab confirmed to local newspaper The News that he has called the DG CAA to discuss the issue. To make the matter worse the Principal Staff Officer to DG Tashfeen Ashraf has asked his boss to relieve him from his current job. Earlier the Pakistan Air Traffic Controllers Guild (PATCG) also joined hand with the senior management of PCAA in support of their call to remove DG from his office. In a letter written by its President Muhammad Javed Hameed, PATCG also complained about the behaviour of the Director General CAA and extended full support to calls for his ouster.
In a letter written to the Secretary Aviation, 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 is the only airport operator in Pakistan that manages all the airports in Pakistan. And in a unique fashion its also regulates, monitors and regulates all civil aviation activities inside Pakistan.
The News contacted Air Marshal (Retd) Asim Suleiman for his version 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 had told The News.