Marching for merit

The unsuccessful candidates of SPSC, who have embarked on a long march from Hyderabad to Karachi, may not command the numbers or attention enjoyed by India's youth-led 'cockroach' movement. Yet their comparatively small presence should not diminish the importance of their demands. The strength of a protest should not be judged by the number of people taking to the streets, but by the legitimacy of their grievances. For young people who have spent years preparing for competitive examinations, questions surrounding the fairness of recruitment are matters of considerable consequence.

Having spent more than 80 days protesting outside the commission's office, they have now embarked on a long march from Hyderabad to Karachi. Their persistence should be reason enough for the provincial government to listen. Competitive examinations are supposed to offer an avenue of advancement based on merit, particularly in a society where opportunities are scarce and patronage continues to influence access to employment. Any perception that this avenue is compromised threatens to deepen an already troubling sense of disillusionment among educated youth. The legal dispute surrounding CCE 2024 has further complicated matters. The Sindh High Court's order for rechecking answer scripts was subsequently suspended by the Federal Constitutional Court, allowing the recruitment process to continue. This does not absolve the commission of blame for any wrongdoing, just as the protesters' failure to qualify does not invalidate their concerns.

What is required is an impartial examination of the allegations, conducted without prejudice to those who have already qualified. A fresh examination cannot be justified solely by public pressure, but neither should demands for scrutiny be dismissed without a transparent response. The least the Sindh government should do is engage the protesting candidates in a meaningful dialogue.