ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: The interviews of the candidates who have passed the written portion of the competitive examination-2005 may affect the general recruitment process because of shortage of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) members. Official sources feared that many general recruitment positions could be abolished for not being filled during the stipulated time.

It is estimated that some 2,000 candidates for general recruitment would be affected, if the situation is not rectified immediately.

As per the traditions a six-member FPSC board including its chairman conducts the interviews of the candidates, who qualify the written portion of the competitive exam.

This year 276 candidates qualified for the psychological tests, interviews and final selection. Their psychological tests and viva voce will be held on Dec 12 and 26 respectively at Peshawar centre.

With the retirement of Tariq Saeed Haroon on November 30, the commission is already left with only five members — Abdul Ahad Najmi, Dr Muttawakil Qazi, Syed Mohib Asad, Nishat Rafi and Aziz Khan — and chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Jamshaid Gulzar Kiani.

If all these members and the chairman get involved with the interviews of CSS candidates, the general recruitment process would be suspended.

Since hiring process for a number of general recruitment posts had been continuing for a long time, a further delay could result in abolition of the vacancies under the existing rules.

At the same time the ministries and divisions have been seeking urgent filling of vacant positions. Besides, this situation of simultaneously continuing with the interviews of candidates of competitive exam and general recruitment, there is legal perspective to the issue as well.

As per the statutory requirements, the board for interviewing competitive examination candidates must have a member from judiciary and army in addition to a female representative. While the existing members may fulfil the requirement of army representation, there is no one to represent the judiciary and women to the board.

Consequently, the competitive exam board interviews can be defined as deficient and not in conformity with the legal requirements.

Sources in the FPSC say that the commission has made a contingency plan of holding the interviews with a 2-member board plus the chairman, so that the general recruitment could be continued albeit at snail’s pace.