HYDERABAD: Many of unsuccessful candidates of the Combined Competitive Examination-2024 (CCE-2024), held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), have been continuing their protest against alleged “unfair results and nepotism” ever since the results were announced on May 6, 2026.
While a larger number of such candidates from across Sindh had been taking part in the rallies and demonstrations in different cities and towns of the province, some of them have moved the judiciary as well.
The SPSC rejects the allegations, saying that it spares no effort in ensuring transparency, meritocracy and integrity in its examination process.
While commenting on the May 13 protest by unsuccessful candidates, SPSC’s controller of examination had observed on May 15 that it believed the candidates were perturbed because the CCE-2024 result was quite dismal and few candidates passed the examination.
Alleging unfair result, protesters demand retest; SPSC avoids comments on campaign, saying matter is sub judice
The SPSC, however, avoided any further comment on the continued protest campaign citing the litigation process. When approached on Monday (Aug 3), a spokesman for the SPSC said: “Since the matter is subjudice before FCC therefore any comment on it would not be advisable”.
The Sindh High Court has issued notices on an SPSC plea, seeking record of its CCE-2024 exam from IBA. SPSC argued that the IBA could not retain it after FCC suspended SHC’s order. The SHC had on June 30 ordered rechecking of answer sheets of candidates by the Sukkur IBA.
On their part, the protesting candidates lament that interviews of CCE-2024 exam’s successful candidates were held by the SPSC in Karachi “unconstitutionally” because the matter is still pending adjudication before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) that had now suspended SHC’s interim order on July 15.
SPSC had gone into appeal before the FCC, which had suspended SHC’s June 30 order and on the strength of the same FCC order, the SPSC conducted interviews of 70 successful candidates.
“Only 70 candidates passed the written test against 67 offered seats although 5,000-7,000 had cleared the written exam,” Farman Ali, a candidate spearheading the campaign, noted with dismay.
‘Protest will continue’
The unsuccessful candidates had set up a protest camp outside the SPSC offices along Thandi Sarak in Hyderabad on July 24 after holding a big rally under the aegis of the ‘Students Action Committee’, led by their leaders — Zabiullah Mastoi, Fakhar Zaman Khuharo, Wajahat Hingorjo and Farman Ali Malgani.
Senior leaders of major mainstream opposition parties, MQM-P, PTI, SUP and QAT, did visit the protest camp, but none from the ruling PPP or provincial government turned up till Tuesday, the 12th day since it had been set up.
The protesters, however, appeared steadfast in their struggle. One member of the action committee said that the SAC was going to launch a door-to-door campaign within the next few days, starting from Qasimabad. He said the scope of the protest would gradually be widened to the entire Sindh.
The protesting candidates are seeking groundswell of support from society.
While visiting the protest camp on July 29, Karachi Bar Association (KBA) President Advocate Amir Nawaz Warraich had advised the SAC to block the National Highway by holding a sit-in, like the one held on the Babarloi Bypass (Khairpur) against controversial canals, in order to press the government to accept their demands. Advocate Warraich had led that sit-in which had evoked support from all segments of society. However, the committee appeared not ready to go for such a sit-in at this stage.
Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2026
