Justice Bhagwandas appointed Pak Civil Service Commission chief

Islamabad, Nov 26(ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Justice (retired) Rana Bhagwandas as the chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) under Article 242 (1) (1A) of the Constitution.

The post of the chairman of FPSC had been vacant since the retirement of former chairman Lt. Gen. Shahid Hamid, eight months ago.

According to reports, the new chairman FPSC held meeting with President Zardari here at the Presidency while the spokesman at the president's camp house said, that Zardari felicitated Bhagwandas on acceptance of new responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the powers enjoyed by the FPSC chief had been cut drastically, as he was no longer responsible for top appointments/promotions in the bureaucracy. This is seen as major jolt vis-'-vis merit-based promotions in the bureaucracy, The Dawn reports.

A couple of months ago an ordinance was promulgated, amending the Civil Servants Act of 1973 for the removal of the chairman of FPSC as head of the board. (ANI)