Former dictator Pervez Musharraf was an undemocratic president and therefore with his fall and subsequent exile all his decisions small and large were to be treated as non-existent and law reverted back to its former order. But unfortunately, five years down the road the laws enacted by the former disgraced dictator are still in place in all their might and glory. For example, he had cut the CSS age limit by two years. With the advent of democracy, CSS aspirants hoped in earnest that the age bracket will widen consequently but much to their chagrin and despair it stubbornly stayed in its place. Resultantly, those candidates who had crossed 28 years deadline by then have now crossed 30 years by now and hence are living with nothing but regrets and hopelessness. Ironically, the incumbent government extended the age limit for all other federal jobs from 30 to 35 years in 2011 through a notification but consistently ignored the hue and cry of the CSS aspirants with a cold shoulder.
Seeing the neglectful attitude, CSS aspirants collected their pocket money and filed CSS age petitions in the Lahore High Court and Peshawar High Court. The courts admitted the petitions and in their hearings called on the Establishment Division to comment as to why the age discrimination has been maintained with the CSS exams. The establishment division has not submitted its comments so far and it could be that either because it is facing resistance or is deliberately employing delaying tactics. Whatever the case, it is the youth of Pakistan who are suffering.
Therefore, I request your honour, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, to take suo motu, because article 25 of the constitution of Pakistan does not allow discrimination, and extend the upper CSS age limit to 35 years so that all those who love civil services of Pakistan can stand a chance to take this exam and serve their country.
GHULAM MURTAZA
Peshawar