One common misconception among people joining Army is that they think they can leave the Army when they want. Well they can’t, usually.
Some people joining as short service regular comission (like doctors or engineers or software engineers) think that they can leave Army after the completion of their bond too, which they can’t.
This article discusses:
- Why are resigns not accepted in Pakistan Army
- Why you can’t leave army even after your bond is complete
- Minimum how many years you’re required to work before being allowed to leave
- How people quit if they do
Read the article to know if we can resign normally, if not then what are the options that army soldiers and officers use to quit Pakistan Army usually.
Can we resign from Army?
Yes you can resign, but it is NOT accepted.
Why Isn’t resign accepted?
Army is running on shortage already. So it has to keep hold of as many soldiers and officers as possible to sustain the shortage.
Also the fund is short, so the money, resources and time spent on making one soldier or officer gets wasted if they resign.
Can we leave Army or not officially?
Overall, yes you can leave it. But not by resigning or even at the comletion of your bond when you join as SSRC too.
Can we leave after completion of our bond?
Bond is the contract individuals do when joining Army for the number of years they’re bound to serve after completion of training.
People joining with short service regular comission (e.g. doctors, engineers, teachers) join usually on 2, 5 or 7 years bond. However this bond is not entertained and you have to serve for the complete duration (25 years of service e.g.) before you’re allowed to leave the Army as a major. If you get promoted then the number of years extend too.
Can’t we simply stop going to work?
No. You can’t simply stop going to your unit or work place. Army informs the police and the suspect is apprehended and criminal proceeding is done based on the charges put upon him or her.
Anyone leaving like this is put on AWL (absent without leave) list and ECL (exit control list) so he can’t leave the country and get apprehended if tries to (so that they don’t become bhigora).
How to Resign from Pakistan Army
Several ways to leave Pakistan Army, only through which a person can leave officially are:
- Permanent down category due to medical issues which make him unable to work on office desk too
- Lack of promotion, if they fail to get promoted to next rank, then they will be allowed to leave after the completion of the service years of that rank (Almost 25 years for major)
- Caught in any criminal activity, he gets due punishment for that act too
Isn’t it wrong to not let anyone leave?
Every country or organization has their policies. Pakistan Army don’t practically allow soldiers and officers to leave when they resign. Individuals who join Army should know the details as its their duty to know the complete details before joining.
As Army isn’t a walk in club which anyone can join when they wish to and quit when they feel like.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions about this article through comments.
Well you can leave if you know someone higher up in the chain of command. Forget it if you have an ordinary background or you are a technical graduate/dentist/doctor/nurse etc. However if you are son of a big gun, you will be lucky. One Secretary Defence back in 2011 got his son released and he was the only one who was allowed to leave but there are many other examples of the same nature in other years.
There is an interesting example of how one could leave. One soldier on UN mission many years ago married a white woman.When the unit came back, he was put in local military prison. When his wife couldn’t make contact with him, she flew over and reached the military base.Mid-day she was with commanding officer,by the afternoon she was having tea with division commander and by the evening she was with Corps Commander enjoying his hospitality. Next day she flew away with her husband. Now you can imagine the power of a foreigner wife.
Many a sons and daughters of senior officers who are not allowed to quit, go on a course /study leave or holiday overseas and never return. Then few fathers get together and use connections to seek amnesty from the top command and hence they come back and get discharged.
Back in 2005 or 6 , about 40 persons were given such amnesty including some women. During his regime one big boss gave amnesty to a couple and the brother of a senior army officer. Last year, 5 technical /medical officers hailing from elite class were lucky to have this privilege once again. They flew in and were sent to a city near border area and duly released within a month.
Most interesting incident narrated is that of a medical corps’s radiographer who escaped to a first world country. He was known to one President (who has accounts in Swiss Banks) and was given amnesty /pardon by him and was elected to the Senate of the country.
What matters is who your father /father in law is and what arm or service he was in. The cardinal unwritten rule governing the release and resignation of officer class in particular is “ Show me the man and I will show you the rule”. Commoners lovingly called “Mango People “ are treated strictly as per rules. So don’t mess with them if you have no relations in higher echelons.
Last of all,saying goes, “military justice is to justice what military music is to music.” (Robert Sherril)
Thanks for adding such an elaborate reply. I hope that things improve soon.
I have signed a bond as doctor but haven’t given joining.Can i step back from army at this point?
Yes you can. You are free till you report for training. After that, you can still get out during the training before passing out, but that is a very difficult process and money has to be paid too.
https://nation.com.pk/11-Apr-2018/sc-moved-against-ex-coas-for-supplying-spurious-medicines
So i have a questions. What about the people who enroll as medical cadets? They are given permanent commission into the army and have to serve for 13 years. But what if there is an over-ambitious medical cadet who wants to settle abroad and specialize there? Do you think this person can resign after their housejob at least?
No. He can not leave army before 23 years (not 13), at least not easily (practically almost impossible)
Well, in view of current circumstances it’s almost impossible. They take away your medical degrees as well, so you have no chance to go absent either. However, promotion prospects are very good these days…so better not joint but if you are too keen then stay put. You will be OK.
army say bhigora honay k bad us k khilaf kia action ho sakta hai??
log kehtay hain aisay person ko govt job nahi milti is main kitni sachai hai???
bhigora honay k baad woh bnda black list kr dia jata hai. Government job k liay usko apny thaany se clearance krwani hoti hai, jo blacklist hony ki waja se nhi ho paati. Is liay woh koi government job nhi kr skta. ECL (exit control list) mai bhi naam daal dia jata hai, jis ki waja se woh mulk se bahir nhi jaa skta (mainly officers).
Me traning me 7 din raha ton me chuti aya tha or phir bai geya ab dobara me apply kr sakta hun
Training kahan thi apki?
if soldier only can pass initial test of PMA long cource. So can he have a chance of promotion?
Yes he can. But it’s very hard to get permission for appearing in that test. Usually permission is not given.
Ager koi larka apni traning se baag jaye to wo dibara army me apply kr sakta ha ??
Which training did you run away from?
how to leave SSG COMMANDO training plz guide me
Leave? means ap training chorna chahty ho?
Yes
Soldiers ghulam hote hai officers k kya ye such hai
depend krta hai apki ghulam ki definition pr
PMA Long Course ky officers ko Army chorny k lie kitny years ki service krni lazmi ha???
Minimum per bond is 13 years as per last info. However it’s not that simple to leave the army after that too.
when can a female gdmo leave the army after completetion of bond?
By law yes she can leave. But practically it’s not like that. A person has to request a resign upon completion of the bond years and it’s not accepted most of the time.
Also, your bond gets extended when you go to UN mission or start specialization training. So it’s a never ending bond.
After resign from pak army we can join navy or paf
If your resign was legal and formally processed (and wasn’t dismissed form service) then you can apply imho.
My brother is a clerk in pak army and he has done a few months but now he wants tk leave because our parents are old and alone at home so he wants to take care of them can he leave how? Please guide us and reply thanks
He can talk to his unit or headquarter. He can then also write to / take interview of the General if his issue is not solved.
I was a cadet of pma long course 148 and I resigned and I paid all my bills so is it possible for me to rejoin or apply again?
If you were discharged without any criminal charges and with a good reason, then you can try to apply again.
I was a cadet of PMA long course 148 and I resigned after paying all the bills so is it possible for me to apllay again or rejoin can someone kindly confirm it?
Thank you
If your resign was legal and you got honorable exit, then you can apply again if you are eligible.