–Asks about the selection criteria, release procedure and other benefits an officer gets on allocation
ISLAMABAD: Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, while hearing a writ petition pertaining to induction of military officers in civil service through Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), has asked six questions from the FPSC chairman regarding the ins and outs and has asked him to submit a written reply by May 14. The court also issued notices to the secretary defence and the attorney general.
The six questions asked from the FPSC chairman are as follows: On which basis serving Army, Air Force and Naval officers are inducted into the civil service. Secondly, whether some quota is fixed for the officers of armed forces, and if the answer is yes, whether they compete with other candidates participating in the CSS examination. Thirdly, the court asked, whether, on selection in CSS, their status as retired officers does entitle them to receive pensioner benefits for service already rendered by them.
The IHC also asked about the criteria for the release of cadets from Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and how much money he receives before he is allowed to leave.
Most importantly, the court inquired that how much cost occurs to state in producing a major and captain and whether the cost is recovered from them on opting to leave and joining the civil service.
It is pertinent to mention here that the officers inducted from forces into the civil service are exempt from a written exam, where the majority of the candidates fail. They only have to appear in an interview and psychological evaluation.
“The military quota in civil service is a vivid example of the blatant discrimination. The khaki is superior to the civilians. The civilian aspirants endeavour years to get into the civil service while the army selects and sends its officers for the interview,” said Kashif Memon, a CSS aspirant.