Last month, for the first time ever, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) announced the results of competitive examinations with a delay of about 14 months. In doing so, the FPSC also drifted away from its very own decades-long practice of announcing previous year’s results prior to the upcoming examinations.

As a result, countless aspirants for the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination this year approached the FPSC for the timely declaration of results of the competitive examinations that were conducted in February 2024. But due to FPSC autonomy, or should I say lack of accountability, the grievances of the aspirants remained largely unaddressed. Resultantly, aspirants across the country moved the Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad high courts, and implored the courts to order the announcement of long overdue results of CSS 2024 before the commencement of exams.

Again, due to the autonomous nature of FPSC, the high courts largely remained unable to direct the commission to redress the aspirants’ grievances. In view of the broader public interest in the matter, the current situation necessitates a thorough review of the laws and regulations governing the Islamabad-based FPSC, which presently operates as a fully autonomous body without any sort of accountability.

Dr Ahmed Osama Gill

Gujranwala