ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information has withheld the results of officers who have qualified to be posted abroad, leading to criticism and panic among successful candidates.

The new selection process for press officers in Pakistani missions abroad includes a written test and an interview, and the final decision is made by the prime minister.

Candidates sat their tests at the National University of Modern Languages on Oct 2, but senior ministry officials have delayed the announcement of their results. The ministry received the results more than a week ago but has not released them to the candidates or to the public.

The test was held because officers currently posted at 17 high commissions completed their three-year tenures in September.

These include a grade 20 press minister in New Delhi whose seat has been vacant for some time. A grade 18 press attaché is currently posted in the Indian capital.

There are 11 posts for press counsellors in Brussels, Tehran, New York, Dubai, Singapore, Paris, Ottawa, Dhaka, Jeddah, Kabul and Tokyo. There are also four press attaché positions in Cairo, Colombo, Beijing and Washington D.C.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said she has not been informed of this matter.

“I will look into it and our government will ensure transparency in all affairs,” she said.

A senior ministry officer claimed the ministry is looking for ways to quash the result and revert back to the system under which officers were handpicked for foreign postings.

“It is not written in the rules, but to ensure transparency and bring forth able officers for these sensitive posts, the procedure of appointments through written tests was adopted in 2016 with the approval of the information secretary and the Prime Minister’s Office,” he said.

The information secretary did not respond to questions about the delays in the release of candidates’ results.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2019