PCAA sacks two directors over ‘misuse of powers’

Says directors have caused Rs45m loss to authority

KARACHI: In a rare move, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has sent home two of its directors over alleged misuse of powers, which caused a financial loss of Rs45 million to the authority.

A notice, titled “Award of major penalty, compulsory retirement to Sumair Saeed, Director Engineering Services Directorate”, was issued to the accused on July 22.

“The competent authority is of the opinion that you [the accused] are guilty of the charges contained in show cause notice viz misuse of authority, defiance of procedures, rules and regulations and fabrication of facts about failed project, causing huge financial loss in sum of Rs45 million to the authority, as identified by the board of inquiry,” said the notice.

“Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred upon him, the competent authority has imposed a major penalty of ‘compulsory retirement’ upon you with immediate effect, under para 7(b)(1)(b) of Civil Aviation Authority (efficiency and discipline) Regulations 2014,” it added.



“The competent authority, ie the secretary aviation, has considered your [the accused] response to proceedings of the board of enquiry, reply to show cause notice and submissions made by you during personal hearing held on July 12, 2019, where you appeared after third and final notice.”

The same notice was also issued to Additional Director HR Riaz Ahmed, who was thought to be the right-hand man of Saeed.

“Saeed has been awarded the penalty in relation to the human resource (HR)-related project he had to execute but could not be completed, which became the reason for wastage of money,” said an informed source on condition of anonymity.

“In government departments, first an inquiry determines the waste and responsible person while the other inquiry highlights whether the wastage of money is incidental or pilferage,” he elaborated. “If it is pilferage, it is recovered through different ways, including lump sum amount, instalments or by selling property of the accused, which is relevant in this case.”

An inquiry committee is constituted when either somebody complains about a person or the audit para cannot be settled due to anomalies, according to the source. In this case, one of the seniors had complained against Saeed and his companion.

Saeed had remained the HR director for a long time and was one of the strong directors at PCAA, said another source. He was himself disciplined and used to punish those who violated the discipline, therefore, the employee union and lazy officers did not like him, according to the source.

However, Saeed was accused of lobbying against PCAA Director General Air Marshal (Retired) Asim Suleman.

“Saeed had 13 years of service and was expected to be the PCAA DG in future, so any mistake would be enough for his rivals to get him out of their way,” said the source.

He introduced many standards and policies in the HR department, which were still being followed. He introduced a new department of services, contract-based services and point-based performance system for the employees, said the source. Based on these rules, many were punished, demoted or even laid off.

In 2009-10, when Farooq Rahmatullah was the PCAA DG, Saeed became the private secretary and progressed to the post of HR director with the help of his degree, Bachelor of Engineering. During his service, he also completed MBA from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the source stated.

A year ago, Samar Rafique replaced Saeed as HR director and he later was placed as director of the Engineering Services Directorate with the argument that he was hired for the engineering cadre.



Following the transfer, Saeed sought some time for completing his ongoing assignments, which were important and discontinuation could cause loss to the PCAA, said the source. Then he was again transferred to the Civil Aviation Training Institute (CATI), following which he approached court.

Saeed moved the Sindh High Court and submitted a constitutional petition in the hope that his version would be considered before any progress on the decision.

When The Express Tribune contacted PCAA spokesperson, he confirmed that the notices had been issued, but avoided further comment on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2019.

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