ISLAMABAD, Aug 8 The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is denying jobs to 13 women candidates on the 10 per cent quota reserved for women from Punjab.

On May 22, 2007, the federal government had announced in a memorandum its decision “to reserve 10 per cent quota for employment of women to all posts across the board in the federal government services, including CSS competitive examination, to be filled by direct recruitment in addition to their participation in the open merit”.

The memorandum declares in clear terms that the said quota is in addition to the posts that women candidates may obtain on merit in competition with men.

However, the FPSC denied the successful women candidates from Punjab their share of quota of 19 posts reserved and assured to them in the memorandum.

The FPSC instead provided benefit to some male candidates, most of whom had not qualified on merit for any post.

“Men rather than women have become beneficiaries,” said one of the 13 women candidates who applied in 2008.

The Supreme Court and the Lahore High Court gave judgments against the FPSC on the matter, said another candidate. Yet the FPSC has not taken any step to correct its mistake.