Correcting a wrong

It was back in the year 2000 that the fallen dictator Musharraf along with his bunch of mindless minions delivered the first harsh blow to the then bureaucracy by reducing the CSS age limit from 35 years to 30 years for the government servants having two years of continuous government service.

The same dictator later manipulated with the system by dissolving the powers of bureaucrats, sacking the Chief Justice of Pakistan and sanctioning drone attacks. All those unpopular decisions of his were massively condemned, eventually resulting in his abdication and a cowardly exile.

When the present government came into power it vowed sincerely to compensate for the loss through positive democratic steps and people friendly decisions.

The Chief Justice was reinstated to his honourable position and efforts are on way to make amends for the damage done to the bureaucratic apparatus. However, it is ironic and incomprehensible that no steps have been taken so far to restore the CSS age limit back to its pre-Musharraf era and assuage those CSS aspirants who have suffered along the way due to the infamous decision made in 2000.

Pakistan is a free state and all its citizens are entitled to assert their freedom and fight for their legitimate rights. Human talent has no age limit, competency has no restrictions, determination has no fears.

To end the long suffering of the aspiring ones, I request the President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Chairman FPSC Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas and the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhery to take suo moto notice and extend the current CSS age limit by five years general age relaxation for all the oppressed CSS aspirants for whom not age but only sky is the limit.

MOHAMMAD MUSTAFA

Islamabad