ISLAMABAD, July 23: The top office of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is likely to return to Pakistan Air Force which has traditionally ruled the aviation regulator, after the first director general of the authority from the corporate sector decided not to seek extension of his contract expiring next month.

“I have informed the government that I am not interested in continuing,” CAA Director General Farooq Rehmatullah told Dawn on Tuesday.

Mr Rehmatullah was appointed to head the CAA in August 2006.

Although there are a number of contenders for the position, but the front-runners appeared to be Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry, CAA’s head of human resources department Air Cdr M. Junaid and an International Civil Aviation Organisation official Shahid Nazir.

But observers are keeping their fingers crossed given that the Zardari House is known for springing up surprises and may nominate a loyalist for the coveted post.

The outgoing CAA chief favours that someone from within the organisation should replace him. “I have proposed names of two senior CAA officials for appointment as my successor,” Mr Rehmatullah said.

The director general said he was leaving the office on a high note after having managed to restructure the aviation regulator, propose new aviation policy, initiate a number of development projects, improve the financial health of the organisation and strengthen its regulatory role.

Mr Rehmatullah said that Pakistan International Airline ought to be removed from the regulator’s board.