Unsuccessful candidates of the Sindh Public Service Commission’s (SPSC) Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 began a march to Karachi on Friday, demanding a re-test and a judicial inquiry into alleged irregularities in the exam.
The march started from the candidates’ protest camp outside the commission’s office in Hyderabad. They plan to travel to Karachi via Tando Muhammad Khan and Thatta and hold a protest outside the Chief Minister’s House.
The protesters are also demanding reforms in the SPSC, the dismissal of the commission’s entire management by the government, and a judicial inquiry into other examinations held for different cadres. They set up the camp at Thandi Sarak 81 days ago, after the commission announced the CCE 2024 results.
The march is being led by Sindh Students Action Committee leaders Zabiullah Mastoi, Wajahat Hingorjo, Fakhar Zaman Khunharo, Hussain Bux Chandio, Sikilado Chandio and others.
Speaking to journalists, they said a large number of students had joined the camp but the government had taken no notice, forcing them to begin the march. They had announced the march after calling off a hunger strike unto death at the request of Sindh’s nationalist leadership.
Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party (STP) chairman Dr Qadir Magsi and other party leaders joined the marchers in a show of solidarity. He said the students had begun the march to expose the government. Awami Workers Party (Marxists) secretary general Bukhshal Thallu, Sindh United Party leader Munawar Khaskheli, lawyers and civil society activists also joined the march as it left Hyderabad.
Some of the candidates had earlier approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) through a joint petition. On June 30, the court ordered the rechecking of answer scripts by the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Sukkur.
The SPSC challenged the interim orders before a bench of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), which on July 15 suspended the SHC’s orders. This allowed the commission to hold interviews of 70 successful CCE 2024 candidates.
