Federal Public Service Commission CSS 2009 examination may be rescheduled
LAHORE:The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is seriously considering rescheduling CSS 2009 exams, scheduled to commence from March 14, in the wake of upcoming long march and ongoing intense strike by employees of the commission.
The News has reliably learnt that FPSC authorities were already in a fix as CSS exam dates were coinciding with the lawyers long march, scheduled to start from March 12, while the ongoing strike by the commissions employees which gained momentum in the recent days has further added to their troubles.
Sources in the FPSC said intense strike was being observed in all the provincial headquarters of the commission including central office, adding it was impossible to make arrangements for the upcoming exams without active participation of all these offices.
They further said the FPSC secretary had sought an advice from the high ups regarding holding of exam as per announced schedule, adding it was expected that the situation would be clear in a couple of days. Most probably the exam would be rescheduled for mid-April, the sources claimed.
It is important to mention here that FPSC employees are protesting against the commissions higher authorities especially its Secretary Bashir Ahmad Chohan for his alleged corrupt policies. They had also been demanding cancellation of amendments made to the recruitment rules, raising the quota of BS-17 posts for steno typists to 20 per cent and increase in invigilation fees, etc.
A visit to the provincial office of FPSC here on Tuesday revealed that the employees were on a strike. The officials did not even respond to the phone calls made by people.
Talking to The News, a senior official at the FPSC Lahore office said all the employees of the commission were on strike and had been demanding removal of the FPSC secretary for his alleged corrupt policies. He said since the strike was being observed no official was ready to attend to the visitors.
To a question, the official said it was impossible to conduct the CSS exam 2009 on the announced dates this year as arrangements for the exams were made by the provincial offices in each province which was not possible in prevailing circumstances. He said the long march was coinciding with CSS exam, adding there was possibility that the exam might be rescheduled.
Interestingly, when The News contacted FPSC secretarys office at Islamabad on phone number 051-9215653, an employee who did not mention his name, despite repeated requests, said no officer was in the office as all the employees were on strike against them.
When contacted FPSC secretary Bashir Ahmad Chohan on his cell phone, he refuted allegations levelled against him. He said agitation among the employees had almost ended, adding there would be no need to reschedule the exam.
He however confirmed that an advice had been sought from higher authorities regarding conduct of exam. He said the FPSC had been making all out efforts to facilitate the candidates for the said exam.
To a question, Mr Chohan said the process of issuing roll number slips to the candidates was underway.
