PESHAWAR: Young candidates from Peshawar who cleared all recruitment stages for police department positions are demanding immediate appointments, expressing frustration over being kept on a lengthy waiting list.
Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday, the affected candidates said that despite clearing all required tests including physical, written, psychological and interview stages conducted in 2024 they have yet to receive appointment letters.
The candidates, led by Tanveer Ahmed, son of Ghulam Farooq and a resident of Mian Gujar, stated that around 421 applicants from Peshawar including five female had continuously been placed on a waiting list. They said that in 2024, approximately 15,000 candidates from Peshawar had applied for 3,200 police vacancies through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA). Of these, around 5,000 passed the physical test, while 999 candidates cleared the written examination.
They added that after further process including quality checks, psychological assessments and interviews 520 candidates were placed on the final merit list and their service verification was completed. However, only 93 candidates were called for medical examination and subsequently appointed, leaving the remaining candidates waiting.
The protesters expressed concern that while recruitment in other districts was continuing, the candidates from Peshawar were deprived of employment. They said they have been waiting for the past two years and are repeatedly told by officials that they are on a waiting list and will be contacted soon.
“Will we be notified when we become overage and ineligible for other opportunities?’ one candidate asked, reflecting the group’s growing frustration.”
Addressing the press conference, Tanveer Ahmed appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zulfiqar Hameed, to take notice of the issue and ensure justice. He also urged the provincial government including the chief minister and chief secretary to intervene and resolve the matter.
The candidates warned that if their concerns were not addressed within two weeks and appointment letters were not issued they would stage a protest sit-in in front of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the chief minister house.
Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2026
