Testing times: Protests against nullified NTS result

Say test was conducted under government supervision

MINGORA: Scores of candidates for local government secretaries protested in Swat on Monday against the suspension of their NTS test results by K-P government. The protesters from Khwazakhela, Barikot, Mingora, Kabal, and Matta marched towards Mingora Press Club against the government’s failure to accept the NTS result.

Wali Rahman told demonstrators he and hundreds of others appeared for the test to hire secretaries for the local government set-up. “However, the government has nullified the results and now wants to hire its own people,” he added. “This PTI government has been elected to bring justice and here they are ruining the existing structure.”

Another candidate Aqeelzada said the candidates were expecting to be interviewed, but were later told the test results were not accepted and the provincial government would conduct another assessment. “We passed the test and do not want to appear for another one,” he remarked, adding all the candidates were on the brink of losing hope.

Touqeer Khan said the K-P CM refused to accept the results of an NTS test conducted under the supervision of the provincial government. The provincial chief executive reportedly believed the results were rigged.

“If the CM wants to state they were rigged, he must also be held accountable as the test was taken by his government,” Touqeer pointed out. He added rigging in this test meant all officials appointed through the NTS should be scrutinised again as their tests could also be rigged.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2015.