ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) has criticized the cabinet’s decision to revive the old system of recruitment saying that it would revive institutionalized corruption and nepotism at the cost of merit.

In a press release issued here on Saturday, the PTI central information secretary said the cabinet’s decision to take away the powers of the Federal Public Service Commission to hire government employees in grade 11 to 16 was tantamount to restoring the system of patronage which had already destroyed institutions by politicising the recruitment process.

Akbar S. Babar said the cabinet’s decision would open the floodgates of corruption.

He feared that under the pretext of providing quick employment, government jobs would be auctioned to the highest bidder as was the past practice.

Mr Babar said the decision was taken under pressure from the ruling party members and ministers who want to ensure their official position to provide patronage.

He said if there were delays in hiring through the FPSC, than the government should have taken measures to strengthen the organization rather than undermining it. He said: “With this single decision, the system of merit would be destroyed.

“It would also create more frustration amongst the unemployed youth who cannot afford to buy jobs”, he added.