THIS is apropos of the letter ‘Army quota in CSS’ (Oct 19) by Imtiaz Awan. The writer has rightly pointed out that there should be no quota for army officers in the Central Superior Service because the army officers are directly inducted into CSS without appearing in the CSS examinations.

In a way, the army officers short circuit and bypass the all-important written examination comprising of 11 or 12 full-fledged papers. I wonder which wise man introduced this system because Pakistan Army inherited it from the British Army.

The 10 per cent quota in the Indian Civil Service existed even during the days of the British Army. The Pakistan Army actually wastes out the good army officers who go through two years of rigorous training at the Pakistan Military Academy followed by six-month course in School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta. Then they go to their respective arms schools such as school of armour, artillery, etc., for approximately six months. During the middle of their career they are put through various useful courses and groomed for a future in the army.

In the meanwhile, they are attached with a unit in Siachen glacier for one to two years. When after seven to eights years of service they mature into a hardened and experienced officer, instead of army fully benefiting from them, they are suddenly transferred to civil service.

What a loss to the army. All above mentioned training/grooming comes to a naught. So the army should never ever allow their young officers to opt for a civilian job. The induction of the army officers into civil service only becomes a source of heartburn besides being a great loss to the army. In the Ingle Hall at the PMA, Kakul, it is inscribed ‘my country comes first, my duty second, I come last of all.’

SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI Karachi