PPSC chairman dismisses allegations over lecturers' recruitment

• PPSC chairman say no pressure on him
• Maqsood Ahmed says claims of paper leak are baseless
• Protesting candidates say commission has lost credibility

LAHORE: Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairman Lt Gen (retd) Maqsood Ahmad has denied pressure on him or members of the commission and stressed that the commission is an independent and constitutional body. 

In a press conference on Monday, the chairman said he is ready to present himself for accountability amid the ongoing protests being against him by candidates appearing the PPSC exam.

Read more: Punjab teachers voice dissent on Twitter

The former army official said 500,000 people appeared in the exam for the 2,500 seats open for the post of lecturer. “Many protesting candidates had applied 30 to 54 times but did not pass,” said the chairman. “Allegations of paper leak are baseless."

The press conference came following a demonstration outside the PPSC office by candidates who had applied for positions of lecturer. The candidates have demanded an independent inquiry in a leaked audio wherein the commission's secretary is talking about the exam paper, claiming that the authority has lost its credibility. 

Protests take place outside exam centres in Lahore

The candidates had also staged a protest outside the PPSC examination centres in Johar Town and Lawrence Road on Saturday, alleging that serious errors in the exam paper.

A candidate appearing for the position of lecturer said that jobs for the profession had already been handed out to people. "By holding examinations, the [PPSC] is only doing a formality," he said.

Candidates had appeared for the Economics exam of the PPSC.

Read more: Protests take place outside exam centres in Lahore

The test was held on December 20, following which a number of candidates took to Twitter to highlight their grievances and demanded that PPSC authorities look into the issue.

Some candidates had also shared screenshots of their formal written complaints which they had submitted to the PPSC in this regard. They urged others to follow suit to get justice.

The candidates had alleged that besides numerous spelling mistakes, there were a few questions which had more than one correct answer, which really confused them while attempting the MCQ-based test.

When contacted, PPSC Secretary Muhammad Nawaz Khalid Arbi said that sometimes candidates who are unable to attempt the test successfully try to make an issue out of nothing.