Withdrawal Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Artificial Intelligence (PJAI) maintains a strict withdrawal policy to uphold the integrity of the editorial and publication process. Authors are advised to thoroughly evaluate their intention to withdraw before submitting a formal request, especially considering the collaborative and ethical nature of academic publishing.

1. Submission of Withdrawal Requests

A formal withdrawal request must be submitted in writing by the corresponding author to the Editor-in-Chief. The request must originate from the corresponding author's registered institutional email address and must include:

  • The title of the manuscript

  • The full names of all authors

  • The manuscript ID (if available)

  • A clear and justified reason for the withdrawal

2. Consideration of Withdrawal Requests

All withdrawal requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The editorial office considers:

  • The stage at which the request is made (submission, peer review, acceptance, or pre-publication)

  • The rationale for the request

  • The potential implications for the journal’s workflow and scholarly record

3. Conditions for Withdrawal

  • Before Acceptance:
    Authors may request to withdraw their manuscript without penalty prior to acceptance. However, repeated or unprofessional withdrawal patterns may result in future submission restrictions.

  • After Acceptance but Before Publication:
    Withdrawals at this stage are discouraged and will only be approved in exceptional circumstances, such as serious ethical concerns or major methodological errors. Approved requests may result in a formal withdrawal notice being published.

  • After Publication:
    Once published, withdrawals are not allowed. If significant issues are identified (e.g., ethical violations, data falsification, or plagiarism), a formal retraction may be issued following the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

4. Ethical Considerations and Consequences

  • Cited articles cannot be withdrawn unless there is a proven case of research misconduct or ethical violations.

  • Unjustified withdrawal requests after acceptance may lead to blacklisting of the authors from future submissions to PJAI.

  • Withdrawal requests related to funding or institutional conflicts must be accompanied by official documentation.

  • PJAI strictly adheres to COPE guidelines for managing withdrawals and retractions. Authors are encouraged to refer to COPE’s official site for more details: https://publicationethics.org/

5. Author Responsibility

Before initiating a withdrawal, authors are advised to discuss the implications with co-authors, research supervisors, or institutional authorities. Responsible authorship and clear communication with the journal are essential to ensure academic and ethical transparency.