ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer has alleged that his application for premature retirement was not being treated on merit while many others were given preferential treatment.

A spokesman for PAF, however, denied the allegation.

Squadron Leader Akhtar Abbas in his application (copy available with Dawn) submitted to Secretary Defence Asif Yaseen Malik for early retirement on medical and compassionate grounds stated that a number of well-connected officers had been retired from the force prematurely.

According to the application, PAF officers who got premature retirement since 2011 were: Flying officers Faizan, Talha Zaman, squadron leaders Imran Shabbir, Farhan Tanvir, Syed Mustafa, Asad Ghafoor, Ahmad Javed, Haris Jabbar, Hafiz Imran Liaqat, Mohammad Ahsan, Abroon Jamal, Haris Iftikhar, Farhan Ahmad, Fariz Hassan and Flight Lieutenant Farhan Jalil.

Mr Abbas applied for early retirement in June last year but the PAF authorities turned down his application.

In his application to the defence secretary, Mr Abbas alleged: “The relatives of former air chiefs with minor reasons were relieved while officers facing severe family problems were not, which is totally against the principles of merit and an evident example of favouritism.”

He cited two cases in which close relatives of a former air chief were given preferential treatment.

“Squadron Leader Farhan Tanvir, son of former Chief of Air Staff Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed, was granted release from service with benefits while the resignation plea of Hafiz Imran Liaqat, another close relative of Tanvir Mehmood, was also accepted.”

He added: “Squadron Leader Haris Jabbar and Squadron Leader Abroon Jamal Qazi, both from my branch and with the same seniority bracket as mine, have been granted resignation. I wonder why I am being denied the similar rights even though I have more severe medical, personal and family issues.”

Mr Abbas stated that he joined PAF in 1998 and under the rules applied for early retirement in June last year.

According to the application, wife of Mr Abbas, who holds both Pakistani and US nationalities, could not settle in Pakistan because of accommodation, lack of basic amenities and security issues in the country, and moved back to the US along with their only daughter about four years ago.

The officer said after the departure of his wife and daughter, he had been suffering from acute depression, anxiety and mood swings.

“Even my psychiatrist had diagnosed me with adjustment disorder and recommended suitable action to alleviate my problems.”

He said his application seeking premature retirement was recommended by the commanding officer, assistant chief of air staff (engineering) and the deputy chief of air staff.

“However, once the application reached the air staff level, it stopped progressing,” he added.

“I feel that being head of the organisation Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique is directly responsible not only for the unwarranted delay but also for an inconsiderable reply,” he alleged.

He requested the defence secretary for grant of resignation under rules of the organisation.

When contacted, PAF spokesman Group Captain Tariq Mehmood said the force invested huge amount on the training of officers and under the rules they had to complete service for a certain period of time.

“PAF spends a huge amount on each hour of the training of its officers. Therefore, they cannot be retired prematurely,” he said.

When his attention was drawn towards the officers cited in the application who were released prematurely, he replied: “It depends on case to case basis. Sometimes an officer because of certain issues cannot fly or perform his job. Sometimes an officer surrenders his benefits and other privileges and then he is released prematurely,” he added.