THE CSS is the topmost examination in terms of competition in Pakistan. Recruitment is made on the basis of open merit and the provincial quota system. The latter is the exclusive proportion as well as the right of the provinces.

As a matter of fact, the quota in Sindh witnessed around 80 vacant seats till the allocation in 2008. These seats are placed in the provincial quota. Owing to the lack of qualified candidates in the province, the seats remain unoccupied.

History reveals that during the 1970s, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the then prime minister, had ordered the allocation of aggregate failures against vacant seats because they are the exclusive right of candidates belonging to the same province. Similarly, the case is before the law.

In the CSS 2008 examinations, a multitude of candidates from Sindh failed in the aggregate.

Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro, after a thought-provoking analysis, has found the provision for the allocation of aggregate failures against vacant seats.

Senator Moula Bux has also taken the case to put it up in the Senate. In this connection, the Supreme Court is requested to take suo motu notice of the matter.

Moreover, President Asif Ali Zardari must look into the matter, keeping in view the legal provision and discretionary powers to allocate seats to aggregate failures.

S. HUSSAIN WAGGAN
Larkana