Candidates reject screening test for PMS exam

PESHAWAR: Rejecting the results of screening tests for the Provincial Management Service (PMS), candidates staged a protest to demand cancellation of results or set 40 as passing marks for it.

“It is an injustice to us that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission organised the screening test, instead of judging the ability of candidates through proper exams,” said one of the protesters, who had gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club.

Led by Mohammad Shoaib, the protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. They marched on the road and chanted slogans for the acceptance of their demands.

The speakers said that 95 percent of the candidates declared failed in the screening test. “Those obtaining 40 marks must be allowed to appear in the PMS exam or the new system of screening test must be cancelled,” said Shoaib.

Terming it an injustice to them, the protesters said that the new policy was not legally applicable to them as it was not mentioned in the advertisements to which the candidates had applied.

They apprehended that thousands of candidates would be affected if their demands were not accepted. They also asked the government to abolish the new policy, review the decision and allow those who were expelled from competitive examination. They warned to expand their protest movement if the authorities failed to take notice of their problems.