FAISALABAD, Aug 30: At least 7,200 people, including a number of those holding master degrees, have applied for 33 vacancies of police foot constables, according to information gathered by this correspondent.

The Punjab Police have recently announced openings for those interested in joining the department as foot constables in several districts.

Information reaching here on Saturday stated that 7,200 applications had been submitted to the DIG Faisalabad for 33 seats in Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh. In Faisalabad, there are only seven seats to be filled.

Sources said hundreds of applicants possessed master degrees in English, Urdu and other subjects, and many were the graduates, though the department had demanded matriculation as a minimum qualification for the posts.

On Saturday, at least 2,000 candidates appeared for their physical examination for which special arrangements had been made at the Police Lines ground. After physical tests, the candidates were asked to reach the Service Road area of the Motorway, about 13 kilometres from the district, to take part in the running test.

The recruitment process would be completed during the next week. A committee, headed by the DIG, would interview the shortlisted candidates.

A group of candidates toldthis correspondent that theyhad been moving from pillar to post for the last seven days to deposit the forms and taking tests. However, rumours were rife that the candidates had already been shortlisted on the basis of personal likings.

Some of the candidates alleged that a number of inspectors and other police officials had approached them with the demand of Rs40,000 to Rs50,000 to recruit them as foot constables.