The top recruiting agency of the country -– the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) — has made history by assigning a selection committee dominated by former generals to select officers for the elite civil service groups and cadres.

Many in the bureaucracy are shocked to see that the committee, constituted to interview the successful candidates of the Central Superior Services (CSS) written exam for 2006, comprises three retired military generals and one superannuated police inspector-general.

When contacted the FPSC officials also confirmed that the four-member board comprises three retired soldiers and one former cop. Constituted by the Chairman FPSC Lt-Gen (retd) Shahid Hamid, who himself chairs the selection committee, the committee includes two retired generals, one ex-rear admiral and a former inspector-general of police.

Besides Hamid those included in the selection committee include Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Abdul Ahad Najmi, Rear Admiral (retd) Muhammad Nashat Raffi and Sayed Mohib Asad, who retired as a BS-22 police officer.

Except Asad, who was a member of the Police Service of Pakistan, none of the committee members have any experience or understanding of the country’s civil services. “This is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that we have given the mandate of appointing the future civil servants to those who know nothing about the civil services,” a senior bureaucrat commented on condition of anonymity, adding that this is a joke with the bureaucracy.

It is interesting to note that there was a clear option before the chairman FPSC to set up a selection committee having members with varied experience but it was not done. It is the discretion of the FPSC chairman to constitute the selection committee for the CSS interview from amongst the members of the commission.

The commission, which till last year was short of members, has now eight members that include three ex-servicemen all of whom are included in the committee; two ex-cops, including one of the committee members and Aziz Khan, ex-IGP NWFP; and Shaukat Umar, who belonged to the Foreign Service of Pakistan; Mutawakkil Kazi, who has been heading federal divisions and also served as chief secretary Sindh but was a Sindh government employee; and Fazeela Aliani, a retired civil servant from Baluchistan. None amongst the last three was included in the CSS interviewing committee.

The selection committee is currently in the middle of its interviews of those 273 candidates who had passed the written CSS exam of the year 2006. On the basis of their performance in the written exam and after being adjudged by the interviewing board, the FPSC will announce the final result in order of merit. Marks in interviews generally a play key role in deciding the merit position of the CSS competitors.

A young District Management Group (DMG) officer, who seemed disappointed with the constitution of the CSS interviewing selection committee, wondered how the ex-soldiers dominated board would decide on which young mind would be fit to serve in the services like DMG, foreign service, customs and sales tax, income tax, accounts, etc.

its a pity that such a state has been assumed and there is nothing that can be done about it. i'm sure you must ahve noticed that since the army has gained control of the country, each year fewer candidates are clearing the css exam and 2006 had the worst result in a decade.

Hi
sallam
hope so u r all fit
its a pity and a routine practice in pakistan
as military commands is of the view that civil authorities are not fit for country
military people is of the view they are sole defenders of the country
rest of the society just like their unit

Just another episode of military dogmatism. Military dictatorship is continuing its squalid realm by destroying the very foundations of the pinnacle services of Pakistan. This will continue till the demise of current dictator.

__________________
still searching for my soul..............

AOA
u r disscussing civil service only but the situation is same in all departments. let us take example of higher education sector (public+private).
some days ago, i was watching a T.V.program in which major universities's head of SAARC countries were invited. The start was with personel introduction. Now all persons present there told" i was a university teacher, i was a researcher in XYZ university" Now i am head of that university. When it was our turn. P.U. v.c told" i got primary education from that city, that college. i served Pakistan army for 40 years. after retirement, i was appointed as vice chancellor of this institute. AT this, all the persons present there got a shock which could be clearly seen. frankly speaking, I felt ashamed at that moment. Now continuing with u.
An army men gets training in his whole life in a manner to tackle enemy. He even fire the whole magazine if he see some bush is being shacked during invasion. My question to army men is" if that person can act as a chairman of National Book Foundation then why not his predecessor (a poet or educationist) as army men or specifically as corps commander, why not a bureaucrat as a commandant of ISSB. if he can even be security guard in civil society then why not an ordinary policemen as soldier in warfare."
Saddique salik in his book "main nay dhaka dobtay daykha" admits this fact that " if a troop moves from dehli to kashmeer we can think why this happened? what would be its effects?" Now, if MUJEEB says something, we cannot assess what will happen tomorrow and where?
Another interesting incident happened a couple of days ago.
i was watching a P.T.V. program " aiwan-e-saddar say" our honourable president says" my whole training is about warfare, then i joined SSG that is quite offensive. The knowledge about deplomacy, i got from my diplomats. it was on job training. they teach me this this thing. it is quite ridiculous.
the different state functionaries have their own work and they must follow it.

Not a new thing......... Is happening in all the civilian departments since arrival of Musharraf. We can not do anything because we are still infant and people to laugh at. We can not do anything to them because yet we are not social animals but people of pakistan society have become brutal animals. The scenario can be changed if people of this civil society will come on roads and roar like lions against them............ Oh what I am saying........ I think I am dreaming in the day........ will never happen untill we do not change ourselves......But rather a good question to discuss............... But quite hard to take action.................... Be Practical............!

There may be some darker side of it however there is a brighter side as well. The corruption in WAPDA is reduced after a General in past gained charge of it as Chairman back in end 90's.
NADRA is working in strict discipline & mostly corruption free at least upto & avbove gazzeted ranks under the military officers on deputation. NUST is one the best University of Pakistan again under the military establishments.
Though, I agree the darker side of it as well however In my view there exist a positive side as well.

no offence to any one,
it was just my personal view about the issue in discussion,
regards,
sincerely,
Noman !