Only four candidates out of 182 are from minority groups belonging to Sindh
ISLAMABAD: The Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has announced the result of the Re-Scheduled Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), held in December 2017 on the orders given in the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Suo Motu case No 18/2016. According to the result, 182 candidates have been recommended against the allocated posts in the Government of Sindh (GoS). Only four candidates out of 182 are from minority groups belonging to Sindh. It is pertinent to mention that more than 20 candidates from different such backgrounds passed the written exam of the rescheduled CCE-2013 and subsequently appeared in the interview, but only four of them have been recommended for allocation of posts in the GoS. However, in this entire process the five per cent reserved job quota for the minorities has been ignored and eligible candidates from minority groups have been denied their constitutional right. The allocated posts are of executive level.
There is frustration among the minorities due to lack of proper implementation of the job quota regulation as well as admission quota for higher educational institutions. Minorities are promised a five per cent quota in government and semi-government jobs and in admissions to higher and professional academic institutions. The Government of Pakistan in March 2009 reserved a 5% job quota for minorities across the country. The provinces articulated the affirmative action in their policy for the promotion and uplift of minorities. In a June 19, 2014 ruling, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered all the governments in Pakistan to implement the law pertaining to the 5% quota for minorities in letter and in spirit. Organisations and institutions which work for minority rights are requested to exert pressure on government institutions for effective implementation of the job quota for minorities. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, the National Commission of Human Rights and legislators particularly from religious minorities are requested to do the needful.
Sawai Malhi
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2018.
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