A top-level meeting of the government officials with the Interim Prime Minister in the chair was held in Islamabad on Tuesday. Therein the meeting, Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has issued instructions to the Establishment Division to fill 3000 vacant posts of Baluchistan quota on merit. Indeed, it is a welcome move for the people of restive Balochistan. For years, the people of Balochistan have been deprived of their basic rights for one reason or the other. The Prime Minister has rightly instructed the Establishment Division that these posts should be advertised again in the local mass media and ten more days be given to applicants for submitting their applications afresh for these vacancies, paving way for transparent induction of deserving candidates. Nonetheless, the statement remains doubtful in the light of the media reports that Caretaker PM’s son Shafqat Hussain Khoso serving in grade 17, soon after the new setup was installed, has been promoted and appointed in grade 18 in NHA on a lucrative position on deputation. The quick elevation of undeserving son of the caretaker premier in grade 19 on next day may have surprised many others working in NHA. But certainly, it was a rude shock for many who were hoping for an end to nepotism, favoritism and corruption unleashed in the previous PPP regime. Notwithstanding wide-spread corruption reported from subordinate ministries and departments, earlier, former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani’s sons benefitted from the powers of their father, and then again, son-in-law of his successor Raja Ashraf Pervez, too, was given the prized posting. Thus many dubbed the PPP regime as the most corrupt government this country is ever governed by. Now the widespread feelings are that the hand-picked caretakers are well and truly heirs of the previous regime. The caretakers have started the political journey from where the previous government left, building up the same charge-sheet of corruption and nepotism. It is going to hurt the sentiments of masses and integrity of the Prime Minister’s office. Though the abuse of the position, power and authority is not new phenomenon in Pakistan yet a majority of the countrymen cannot expect the same from an elderly person from the superior judiciary. What a bad luck this country has that each and every ruler—no matter where he comes from-- falls to temptation of greed and lust associated with the power. The caretakers will remain in power for a few more weeks. Alas! The stories of nepotism are hitting the racks. Now the caretakers have decided to execute the jobs quota in Balochistan. The people of Balochistan have already been brutalized over the years. They deserve fair-play, justice and even-playing field. The caretakers must take every possible measure to curtail the prevailing sense of deprivation amongst the people of Balochistan. The transparent execution of jobs quota will woo the people of Balochistan back in the mainstream politics, and the jobs on merit is the answer to many ills. No more nepotism, please!

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