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FPSC Begins Scrutiny of Officers Regularized in 2012–13 on SC Orders
On Supreme Court orders, FPSC begins scrutiny of 2012–13 regularized officers. Over 800 cases sent; many at risk of losing seniority if they fail test. Political pressure delays full compliance.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-14
FPSC Begins Scrutiny of Officers Regularized in 2012–13 on SC Orders

Acting on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has officially begun the scrutiny and re-evaluation process of thousands of government officers regularized in 2012 and 2013, many of whom now hold senior positions in various ministries and departments.

The development stems from a Supreme Court verdict issued on September 13, 2024, in response to petitions filed by Mohsin Raza Gondal and others. The court ruled that the cabinet sub-committee lacked the legal authority to regularize officers of Grade 16 and above, declaring that such powers rest solely with the FPSC. As a result, all appointments made through the Khursheed Shah-led committee during that period must now undergo scrutiny by the FPSC.

Implementation and Delays

Following the verdict, the Establishment Division, after consulting the Ministry of Law and Justice, issued a formal office memorandum on March 19, 2025, instructing all ministries, divisions, and federal departments to comply. While 14 ministries and departments have submitted 897 cases, many others are still resisting, reportedly due to political pressure and internal lobbying.

Among the ministries that have submitted cases to FPSC are:

·       Ministry of Education & Professional Training: 551 cases

·       Immigration & Passport: 199

·       FIA: 21

·       Federal General Hospital: 32

·       Bureau of Immigration: 25

·       Federal Medical College: 9

·       Military Intelligence: 32

·       And others from Human Rights, Cabinet Division, Food Security, etc.

However, major institutions like PIMS, Polyclinic, and the National TB Program under the Ministry of Health have yet to send in their cases, raising concerns about selective compliance and contempt of court.

The Scrutiny Process

The FPSC has established a two-step evaluation process:

1.     Written Test (100 marks) – Minimum 40% required to pass

2.     Interview – Only successful candidates from the test proceed to the interview

Candidates who pass both stages will be declared formally regularized, while those who fail will lose their position and seniority, regardless of their years of service.

Interestingly, despite having served for more than a decade, many candidates have failed to secure even 40% marks, casting doubt on the merit of the initial regularization process.

Controversy & Fake Notification

In an attempt to delay or influence the process, some affected officers allegedly circulated a fake notification on social media, falsely claiming the cancellation of the FPSC scrutiny. The Establishment Division swiftly rejected the document and reaffirmed the integrity of the ongoing process.

The Establishment Division has made it clear that no officer can be promoted or granted seniority unless they are cleared by the FPSC. The delay by some ministries in forwarding cases is being considered a violation of both Supreme Court orders and federal policy.

Conclusion

This high-stakes scrutiny has placed the future of hundreds of officers in limbo, creating anxiety across ministries. With FPSC ramping up the process and political pressure mounting, all eyes are now on how swiftly and transparently this historic regularization review will be concluded — and what consequences await those who fail to meet the merit bar.

 
Tagged:

SupremeCourt

CivilServiceReform

FPSC

PakistanBureaucracy
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