SAHIWAL, Nov 5: Applicants have complaints about the process of submitting applications for 54 jobs advertised by Rescue 1122, Sahiwal office. So far 1,110 applicants have applied for the jobs.

According to the procedure, each applicant has to obtain a prescribed pro forma from the office by showing his CNIC copy along with payment of Rs20.

Applicants submit the filled pro forma by attaching all necessary documents, including medical certificate from the DHQ Hospital. Later each applicant has to appear before a scrutiny committee for documents’ verification.

A gate is reserved for allowing the applicants before the scrutiny committee. For the last many days a long queue of candidates is seen at this gate. They complain that most of the time the gate remains closed. It opens suddenly and a rescue guard allows five to six people into the veranda. No queue is followed.

"I have been standing here for the last four hours but has not been able to enter the place where scrutiny is done," Naeem Ahmed, a resident of Noor Shah, said. "There are many entry points to reach the scrutiny office. Those who have connections don't bother to stand here," claimed Muhammad Ijaz, a graduate.

Muhammad Asif, another applicant, said he obtained his medical fitness certificate after paying Rs200 to DHQ Hospital staff. "This amount is taken from those who want to get medical certificate on emergency", he added.

"They are selling newspaper advertisement photocopy for Rs10 each, a requirement for submitting the application", said Safdar from Farid Town. It is learnt that Rescue 1122 office staff had the privilege to submit applications of their relatives bypassing the regular procedure. Dr Ashaar, District Emergency Officer, confirmed this. Talking to Dawn, he denied other allegations and said the application submitting procedure had been adopted for security reasons.—Shafiq Butt