Fellows I am so sorry that I ve been a bit late in sharing my interview experience.
Here it goes:
My interview lasted about 30 minutes and was mainly focused on three things:
1. my optional subjects
2. my personality
3. the group of my preference.
There were general questions as well reagrding Inflation, ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation etc.
While asking about my optional subjects, the panel asked following questions:
Int. Law: What is the jurisdiction of ICJ?
Arabic: What are the significant charecteristic of Arabic Culture?
Questions regarding language and history of Arabs.
What do you mean by Islamic Culture?
Journalism: Investigative journalism and Watergate Scandal?
Punjabi: What do you enjoyed the most while reading Punjabi?
They didn’t ask about Muslim Law (hope my score isn’t too low…)
They even asked me from IndoPak history about the war of independence and treatment meted out to the last Mughal emperor.
They particularly grilled me on the issue of Ideology of Pakistan. Though I am hopeful that my answers were satisfactory. They even compared Bangladeshi secularism in politics with our so called Islamic passion in politics to which I replied that Islamic concept of statehood is essentially secular and based on meritocracy and if Bangladesh avows to be secular it doesn’t mean that they are going to legalise gay marriages and pork and liquor will be sold openly. Secularism in politics should not be confused with anti-religiosity.
At this point I was asked that if I wouldn’t mind if Pakistan gets a non-Muslim head of state?
I replied that personally I will have no problem if the person is competentenough. I further wanted to say that though it is practically impossible as Pakistan has almost 100% Muslim population, but I was cut short. (this was the lowest point of my interview as I believe my answer to be totally unorthodox…)

Further I was asked that if I am given the group of my choice, what would I like to do, what “novelty” I would bring to the service?
I replied that I will identify myself with the people of the area of my posting. I will learn their language and respect their culture and would interact with them on personal level. I criticised the “aloofness” of officers of DMG. This is exactly why almost all the groups of civil services (and now even PMS) are dissatisfied with DMG.
On this I was asked to quote an example where DMG’s officers didn’t interact with people?
I gave the example of FATA which has been under the sway of political agents (essentially DMGians). But no policy for the development of the area or people was ever devised. Main Reason: DMGians never bothered to understand the culture or mental make-up of the people and didn’t devise strategies accordingly.

Next there were questions regarding my personality traits, my facvourite book and personality, my interests and future plans.

The third member once again grilled me on the subject of Ideology of Pakistan and the political set-up(I never pretended to be scolar or something but i was treated as if i was expert on the topic ). I hope my answers were satisfactory.

With the grace of God, no question was dropped and my answers were mainly sensible, the exception being my answer that I would not have a problem if a non-Muslim becomes the head of state(but I wasn’t allowed to complete my answer!!!)

@Muqeet Asim

dear
it went really good, as u told us. such debates are good as it shows penal's interest in u. wish u best of luck.

regards

__________________
We shall prefer to die on our feet than to live on our knees.

@muqeet..wish u all the best.its good to hear from ur side

@muqeet

Bro it was a good interview and you performed well-thanx for sharing, i hope u get ur desired group.amen...

Regards....

__________________
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

here goes mine
i was third to go.time 32 minutes,
1.CM:what is the meaning of siraj? "charagh"
2.CM:why could you not qualify in two attempts?
3.CM:what changes would you bring in police deptt?
4.CM:what is magna carta?tried to confuse me by saying it was in 1218 i remained stick to 1215.and told them it was abrogated in 1216 by king john and revived by henry 3rd in 1225.
5.CM:what is core inflation?sorry
6.CM:what is arms control policy? and counter questioning beginsand CM got satisfied.

7.CM:phool ki pati se kat sakta hay heeray ka jigar,marday naddan pay kalam-e-narmu nazuk bay asar.trnslate it? a diamond that is very hard can be broken down with the delicacy of patel of flower but a fool cannot be made understand through delicacy.
CM:good
8.CM:ahlan wasehlan marhaba ya RASOOLLALLAH:translate it?sorry
9.CM:what if you are allocated in customs or commerse n trade?
10.CM:how would you serve in customs or commerse groups?
11.CM:you are masters in electronic media.why civil service?there i can point out here i can implement,2nd it was my decision to join CIVIL SERVES after doing master,further to get better one has to sacrifice sumthing.
12.ASIF SHAH SB:NFC award,tell me the detail?told in detail
13.ASIF SHAH SB:new educational policy and its features?told in detail
14.ASIF SHAH SB:should there be code of conduct for media?counter questioning.
15.ASIF SHAH SB:your opinion about role of journalist in politics?told in detail
16.ASIF SHAH SB:what is ur opinion about blackmailing?2 liner answer.
17.ASIF SHAH SB:challenges to police?told them.
18.ASIF SHAH SB:responsibilities of police?told them 3 responsibilities.

19.ASIF SHAH SB:what was glorious revolution?told
20.ASIF SHAH SB:do you agree that pakistan is a security state?counter questions.told them with respect to geo strategic position of pakistan.
21.SOHAIL SAFDAR SB:who for the first time wrote "azad nazam"?sorry
22.SOHAIL SAFDAR SB:tell me about national transit trade route and its importance?told
23.SOHAIL SAFDAR SB:fundamental rights in 18 th amendment?told
24.SOHAIL SAFDAR SB:arms control policy and its features?how this government has brought change in it?told
25.SOHAIL SAFDAR SB:speech of quaid azam on september 11?
26.SAUD GOHAR SB:you like arms control policy whereas all the quota goes to politicians.counter questioning.told
27.SAUD GOHAR SB:tell me the exact number of fake licsences?30,000 according to media
28.SAUD GUHAR SB:What supreme court is doing,are you satistied with this?yes,i am.told in detail
29.SAUD GAHOR SB:ur responsibilities as assistant producer.(when i was working).told


5,8,21 number questions were unknown to me.rest went very well ALHAMDULILLAH.i tried to give them refined and logical answers and dealt with with counter questions in appropriate way.rest is up to ALMIGHTY.plz do pray for me.i wish all the candidates for their success

aslam o alaikum naila here.ur intrview seems to b v gud.wish u best of luck.r u a lawyer? international law n mohamadan law r also my subjects n my interview will be on 24th may so kindly guied me what sort of questions they can ask 4m law subjects. i did law n i am gold medlist in law n now m worried dat what shud b my stratagy 2 revise law subjects.

@tauqeer sb @serene beauty @sardonic
thnx so much for ur kind remarks. i really appreciate ur kind response and good wishes.

i presume u were talking to me...
thnx for ur kind wishes.
no dear i m not a lawyer. its just that i opted int. law and muslim law for css.
i wish u bol for ur interview.
dear i would suggest u to b calm, don't overburden urself, anxiety won't do. just basic concepts and general definitions would b sufficient. for example, basics of int. law, definitions of treaty & custom etc would b more than sufficient. in muslim law, apart from basic concepts, u must ve knowledge about difference of opinions among sunni school and shia school.

the bottomline: maintain ur calm. wese bhi interview stage is totally unpredictable, u can never b sure. hope for the best.

and plz focus mainly on the info u ve provided in ur psycho analysis such as weak and strong points, unjustice suffered etc. bcoz questions related to these affairs would really matter. in my profile i mentioned that i would like to write a book in future regarding history of Pak with fresh appraisal and most of the questions were asked accordingly regarding history and ideology of Pakistan during interview.

__________________
A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age...

thanx 4 ur guiedness n good wishes.how shud i prepare UN means what sort of details r necessary shud i read whole UN CHARTER?

May 11th

Last one to go

It lasted for about 26,27 mins

CM: Asked me about history of "Ranjha'z"
CM: Some question regarding family
CM: How does Electrical engg relates to Police service and why u like to go for police service.
CM: What about notorious image of Police
CM: How to reform Thana culture
CM: ideology of Pakistan has lost its credibility after 1971?? Cross questioning over this one
CM: Tell about Law of pre Emption
CM: death bed gifts limitation
CM: sources of Islamic law
CM: untappped mineral resources of Pakistan
CM: Diff of Sunni n Shia law in inheritance matters
CM: Narrated me a couplet of persian poetry to translate into urdu
CM: What is balance of power

AS: Economic profile of Pak
How to curb inflation
How to increase exports
What external factor affect our economy
18th amendment features
How it has empowered parliament
Energy conservation measures
A couple of more questions im unable to recall

SG What was police order 2002?
Was it a failure?
Basic prob regarding women empowerment?
Questions about my job
What is public administration? Dun know why i was asked this one

That was all. May be i,ve missed 3,4 questions but majority i have written down

Do need ur prayers

Regards
SR

__________________
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself be.

As promised, here is my interview in detail...I may have missed one or two questions. I am sorry for that.

Second person on 10-05-2010
Interview Time: 29 minutes
Panel: 3 memebers - Chairman Justice (rtd) Rana Bhagwan Das Sb, Asif Shah sb, Saud Gohar sb


Asslam o Alaikum, sir (individually to all three of them)

CM: Please, take a seat
Me: Thank you, sir
CM: Your name is Sajid Khan
Me: It is Sajid Khan Lodhy
CM: Sajid Khan Lodhy?
Me: Yes, sir

CM: You passed CSS last year too but could not get allocation due to low merit.
Me: Yes, sir. That's right.
CM: How are you prepared this time? Are you better prepared this time?
Me: Yes, Sir. I believe I am.
CM: That's good...

CM: You are BA LLB?
Me: Yes, sir. I am.
CM: Why did you change your profession? You are a lawyer and you chose journalism as your profession. Why?
Me: It's a little complicated, sir.
CM: It’s OK. You can tell us in detail.
Me: My family did not support me for any other program. And, I wanted to join journalism as a profession.
CM: So, you had financial constraints.
Me: You can say it, sir.

CM: You are working in The Nation as a Sub-editor?
Me: No, sir. I worked there for almost 2 years. Then I switched the job.
CM: Did you write for the newspaper or were you just a sub-editor?
Me: Sir, my job was just a sub editor. But, I did write articles for the newspapers. Some of them were published.
CM: That's good.
CM: What are you doing nowadays?
Me: I am a Creative Writer for Blue Technologies, Lahore.


CM: You have written IMF Aid, BISP, War on Terror and Loadshedding as your short term and long term policies. Don't you think 18th Amendment, Balochistan Package, and NFC Award are more important than these policies?
Me: Sir, I did not say they are any less important but it’s just that to me they seem more important. (CM seemed adamant on claiming them to be more important)

CM: Have we been able to end loadshedding?
Me: No sir, we have not succeeded yet. But, the Govt's policies are surely finding positive results.
CM: How come they are doing so?
Me: For example, the recent steps taken after the national meeting conducted by the PM. We are surely witnessing shorter periods of loadshedding.
CM: What is the use of these steps? What kind of these steps are? Closing businesses at 8 pm, two weekly holidays, no AC's in offices? Are these useful?
Me: Yes, sir. They are useful. For the betterment of the nation and the state, if we have to sacrifice a little, it should not matter much.

CM: How can we end inflation?
Me: There are certain steps that we can take to handle inflation. By making better and stringent monetary policy, by controlling the interest rate, by controlling and monitoring loans both in public and private sector, by controlling prices of commodities and general savings on the consumption levels of daily commodities.
CM: Who controls prices? How can we make people save on consumption of commodities?
Me: Sir, the Govt can play its role in controlling the prices.
CM: But, the prices are controlled by the open market. It is the simple rule of demand and supply. The greater the demand, the greater the supply and so the prices would be down automatically.

CM: You mentioned the monetary policy, who makes it?
Me: Excuse me, sir? (I could not hear him correctly)
CM: You have just mentioned monetary policy. Who makes it?
Me: Sir, I think it is State Bank.
CM: You are not sure.
Me: I am sorry, sir, but I am not much of an economist.
CM: You guessed right but you must be sure. You are a journalist.
Me: Now I know that, sir. (smile all around)

CM: You mentioned that you favour more women quota for CSS? Why is it so?
Me: Sir, women are the 50% population of Pakistan. They are a valuable human resource. It would be highly useful if we bring them into mainstream by providing them more opportunities.
CM: But, it would hurt many male candidates. They are already competing against you in the open merit category. Would it not be an advantage given to them over the male students?
Me: It may seem so, sir, but it is better to use this workforce by giving them more opportunities rather than wasting them overall.
CM: A large number of candidates have said to abolish women quota. Have you not met anyone?
Me: I have just met a person with these views, sir. (good laughter all around)

CM: Now that the 18th amendment has been passed. You must have read about it.
Me: Yes, sir. (I thought I was going to be questioned about it )
CM: Can the sitting Parliament increase its tenure by passing an amendment with 2/3 majority?
Me: No, sir. They cannot.
CM: Why not?
Me: Because it would be against democratic norms and constitution.
CM: But, they have the authority to make any amendment to the constitution.
Me: Yes, they have but this is something which they cannot do. Even if they do so, it would be applicable in the next term, not in the term they are sitting now.
CM: Are they competent to make such laws or not?
Me: Sir, the public elects them through elections. They are the true representatives of the public. I cannot say they are not competent.
CM: I mean do they have the authority to make such amendment?
Me: It seems so, sir.
CM: I am asking you this question because you have studied Constitutional Law and have opted it in the CSS, otherwise I would not be asking you this question.
Me: Yes, sir.
CM: (in self explanatory tone) They cannot do so because they have not been given mandate by the people. Their mandate is to serve the people for 5 years only.

CM: You have written in your weaknesses that you get jealous and that you are so straightforward that you sometimes hurt other person's feelings.
Me: Yes, sir.
CM: We understand being jealous but being so straightforward is not a good thing in an officer. You should mould yourself.
Me: Sir, I am straightforward but I do not hurt anybody intentionally. And, i tell the truth even if it is harsh sometimes.
CM: Yes, we know that. We appreciate that you were so courageous as to tell us your weakness. But you should not be so straightforward.
Me: That's why I have put it in my weaknesses, sir. (laughter all around) And, with my job experience, I am learning quickly how to handle it.
CM: I think tolerance and silence are the best solutions.
Me: With respect, sir, I agree with tolerance. It is a coveted quality of any officer but I do not agree with being silent. People can take advantage of us if we remain silent.
CM: Hmmmm. But, there are people who are not up to your mental aptitude and who don't want to listen to you. It is better to remain silent there.
Me: In this scenario, I agree.

CM: Has Bangladesh declared itself a secular state?
Me: Merely denying the use of religion as a base for politics does not mean that they are a secular state now.
CM: I mean have they officially announced it?
Me: No, sir.

CM: Apart from UK, is there any other country that has unwritten constitution?
Me: To my knowledge UK is the only country, sir.
CM: No, there are two more countries. New Zealand and Israel.
Me: OK, sir.

CM: Any lesson learnt from US History?
Me: Self-reliance is the key to success, sir.
CM: How can we bring self-reliance to our country?
Me: By formulating far reaching policies, by having a stable Govt, by having proper economy, by utilizing our natural and human resources, by providing education...

CM: Thank you.


Asif Shah sb:

AS: You have worked as sub-editor. Did you write as well?
Me: My job was purely as a sub-editor but I did write articles for my newspaper.
AS: Who supervises a sub-editor? I mean who checks your work?
Me: I was a sub-editor. Then there is a senior sub-editor, Desk Incharge, Newsroom Editor, and then the Editor in Chief.
AS: Do they all check every work you do?
Me: No, sir. I respond to my superior and he responds to his superior and likewise.
AS: Who is responsible if something goes wrong?
Me: Ideally, the superior would also be asked but in practice I am responsible for my work. If anything goes wrong from my end, I would be responsible.
AS: It is a very hectic job....
Me: Yes, sir. It is.
AS: What are the duties of a sub-editor?
Me: A sub-editor performs many duties. He handles the stories, pictures....
AS: Enumerate them?
Me: To edit, to make a story presentable, to make it suitable for the readers, to use proper language, to make the story error free, to make it more appropriate if it is inappropriate, if required certain aspect to be highlighted, if required certain aspect to be repressed, t take care that no anti-Pakistan ideology is promoted, to take care that newspaper policy is implemented, etc.
AS: Is journalism ideal in Pakistan?
Me: No, sir.
AS: What are the major problems?
Me: Yellow journalism, black mailing, sensationalism, untrained staff....(answer cut short)
AS: What are the qualities of an ideal journalist?
Me: An ideal journalist is the one who reports truthfully and objectively what he sees and perceives true and helps form an informed public opinion.

AS: Your current job is a Creative Writer. What is this?
Me: Sir, a Creative Writer is a writer who writes for commercial and promotional purposes.
AS: Explain it.
Me: For example, if there is a company who is launching a new air conditioner, they might need an advertising campaign. They would come to us and ask for certain type of a campaign for a certain market. Then, my company would devise, design and run a marketing and advertisement campaign for them. The content and ideas for these campaigns are created and written by me.
AS: How can we classify your company? Is it an advertising company?
Me: It is an advertising, online marketing and outsourcing company.

AS: You wrote IMF Aid as a good short term policy of the Govt? How come it is good?
Me: It is good in short term as it can help us revive our economy but it is a bad thing if we keep being dependent upon this aid.
AS: What is this program?
Me: It is an aid program that the Govt of Pakistan negotiated with the IMF to help revive its economy. Initially, it was of 7.6 b $ but then it was increased to 11.2 b $. Pakistan is yet to receive its fifth installment of 1.2 b $.
AS: What are the visible advantages of IMF Aid?
Me: It increases FDI, it increases our foreign reserves and it helps the economy to re-boot.
AS: What are the foreign reserves used for?
Me: They help us in imports and exports. They are also helpful in getting better credit rating for the country. They also give us leverage to get more loans. Moreover, they provide more credibility to the economy of the country.
AS: You wrote policy to end loadshedding as a good long term policy of the Govt. Is there any policy in place?
Me: Yes, sir. Apart from the latest austerity measures, the Govt is following many policies in this regard.
AS: Can you tell them?
Me: There are proposals for energy imports from neighboring countries. Large projects like the Thar Coal project and many dams have been identified. We can produce 20,000 MW from Thar Coal project for up to 40 years and the project can be completed in 10 years. The corridor for wind energy has also been identified up to 50,000 MW. The run of the water and dam-less energy production is also estimated around 20,000 MW.

AS: You have studied Biology in your FSc exams. What is Biology?
Me: It is the scientific study of life, sir.
AS: Human life or animal life?
Me: It deals with the life overall whether it is human, animal, or plant life.
AS: What is the advantage of Biology?
Me: It can help us understand the life better. It is useful in fighting various diseases....
AS: Isn't the medicine that gives us the cure for these diseases?
Me: Yes, sir. But medicine is also a mixture of Biology and Chemistry.

AS: Thank you.


Saud Gohar sb:

SG: You have written in your psychological tests that you want the power to serve the people. What do you mean by that?
Me: I mean I would use the power given to me to serve and help the people.
SG: What do you mean by that? Your preference is DMG. They are very powerful group already. What do you need? They get a house, car, authority and everything. So, what's it that you want.
Me: Sir, these are the perks and privileges of the job. They come with the job. I am not asking for them. I can serve people even without them as I am already doing in every capacity I can. For me, the service delivery is the main issue. I will deliver top quality service whether I am given any authority or not.
SG: The DMG has already a lot of powers.
Me: But I do not have any. That's why I have applied for this job, sir. (big laughter all around. CM looked up at me and Saud Gohar sb and laughed out loud)

SG: You have written Barack Obama as your favourite personality. Recently, he has brought some healthcare reforms. Do you know anything about them?
Me: Yes, sir.
SG: Tell me the main features.
Me: It was a bi-partisan legislation. It has given an umbrella cover to all the citizens of United States. It has brought down the cost of medicine. Large companies are now law bound to provide healthcare insurance to their employees. The tax ratio for the rich has been increased for this scheme.
SG: Why it is being criticized?
Me: The Republicans are criticizing it mainly. They have large businesses which are hit hard by this legislation and the major healthcare insurance companies will have to suffer losses in their earnings.

SG: Thank you.

I sat there until the Chairman also looked up and said me thank you as well.

I thanked them individually and came out of the room.

__________________
Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens......