Protracted Court Battles Over Merit-Based Recruitment Paralyze Key Institution, Fuel Youth Despair and Allegations of Nepotism
MUZAFFARABAD, (PaJK) — The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir has been thrown into chaos after its Chairman, Gen. (Retd.) Hidayat ur Rehman, resigned abruptly this week, citing “systemic interference” by the region’s judiciary. His departure, coupled with the PSC Secretary’s request for a month-long leave, has rendered the commission fully non-functional, deepening frustrations among thousands of educated youths awaiting competitive exam results and job opportunities.
Chairman’s Resignation and Clash with Judiciary
Gen. Rehman publicly announced his resignation outside the Azad Kashmir Supreme Court on Wednesday, refusing to use his official vehicle and departing in a private car after a heated standoff. The final trigger, he said, was the Supreme Court’s directive to issue recommendations for pending senior teacher recruitment cases—a move he rejected, accusing the court of misunderstanding basic logical operators (“OR” vs. “AND”) in legal contexts. “If they don’t grasp such distinctions, they have no right to sit on these benches,” he declared.
His resignation caps months of tension between the PSC and the judiciary. The Azad Kashmir High Court and Supreme Court have repeatedly issued stay orders since early 2023, halting all new PSC job advertisements and recruitment processes, including tests and interviews. A critical Open Merit Case, challenging alleged irregularities in recruitment, has languished in the High Court for six months without a hearing, effectively freezing the PSC’s operations for nearly a year.
Youth in Limbo, Ad-Hoc “Mafia” Thrives
The paralysis has devastated aspirants like 27-year-old graduate Saqib Ahmed, who told [News Outlet], “I’ve prepared for years, but there’s no clarity. Our futures are stuck in legal limbo.” With over 10 months of inactivity, the PSC’s collapse has amplified allegations of an “ad-hoc mafia” exploiting the vacuum. Critics claim influential figures, including relatives of judges, are securing temporary government posts through nepotism rather than merit.
“Every time the PSC tries to schedule exams, the courts block them. Meanwhile, backdoor appointments flourish,” said education rights activist Ayesha Khan. Local media reports allege that children and close relatives of several High Court and Supreme Court judges hold ad-hoc positions, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
Prime Minister Urged to Intervene
Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq has reportedly engaged in last-ditch efforts to convince Gen. Rehman to retract his resignation, but sources indicate the Chairman remains steadfast. The opposition has demanded urgent legislative and administrative reforms to “depoliticize the PSC and judiciary.”
“The Prime Minister must prioritize reactivating the PSC. Our youth’s despair is a ticking time bomb,” said Amna Malik, a lawmaker from the region’s People’s Party.
Broader Implications
The crisis underscores systemic challenges in Azad Kashmir’s governance, where judicial overreach and institutional gridlock threaten merit-based recruitment. With the PSC’s collapse, the region risks further brain drain and erosion of public trust.
As debates over judicial accountability intensify, all eyes are on PM Anwar ul Haq’s next steps. For now, Azad Kashmir’s aspirants wait increasingly hopeless, increasingly angry.
Background Note:
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), administered by Pakistan since 1947, is a semi-autonomous region with its own elected government and judiciary. The PSC is constitutionally mandated to oversee civil service recruitment through competitive exams, a process now mired in controversy.