HYDERABAD: Activists of the Students Action Committee on Saturday began a long march on foot from Hyderabad to Karachi after staging an 80-day sit-in outside the headquarters of the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), demanding transparency in the commission’s recruitment process and the restoration of meritocracy in Sindh.
According to the reports, the marchers set off from Hyderabad at 12 noon, announcing plans to travel through cities along the route and address local gatherings to mobilize public support for their demands. The protesters are scheduled to stage a rally towards the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi on October 14.
The activists are demanding a transparent and impartial examination system at the SPSC, with particular emphasis on the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024. They have also called for the resignation of the SPSC chairman and all its members, alleging that comprehensive reforms are necessary to ensure credibility and fairness in the commission’s affairs. The committee maintains that appointments through the commission must be based strictly on merit, with transparent procedures and equal opportunities for all candidates.
The long march follows nearly three months of protest outside the commission’s headquarters in Hyderabad. Through the campaign, the activists seek to draw the attention of the provincial government and the public to concerns regarding the examination system and the need for institutional accountability. The protesters have vowed to continue their campaign until their demands for transparency, accountability and merit-based recruitment are addressed.
Vice President of the Progressive Students Collective Mansoor Naich has also announced that PSC, with all its members in Sindh, will take part in this march and has vowed full support. Talking to the representative from TSH, Mansoor said, “Merit in the province has been systematically replaced by political influence.” He demanded an immediate halt to controversial recruitments, full judicial audits of past examinations, and the cancellation of all tainted appointments.
