Thread by @AmarJajja

3 stories before CSS

STORY 1:
I topped NTDC/Wapda internship program and was offered job as SDO there. MD NTDC Naveed Ismael called me into his office, congratulated me. I respectfully replied, sir I won't join the job. I plan to go for CSS.

After graduation, I got a job in an industry in Sheikhupura to gain some hands on experience before attempting CSS. I was paid decent salary, perks and facilities. 50 men in elec dept. reported to me. But little did I know that it meant nothing in real world outside that factory.

Almost everyday, I was stopped at Thokar picket while returning from job. Policemen would ask:

Id card dekhaain, dikha dia.
Car docs dkhaen, dikha dia.
License dkhaen, dikha dia.
Kia krtY hain or kdr sy arhay hain?
Engr hu, job sy arha.
Acha, phr gari sy bahr niklain zra.

Here they would start asking for Chae pani, koi thanda sharbat to let me go and considering me to be a paisay wala engineer.

Finding no way out of this, I would then have to introduce my father and they would not only let me go but sometimes sorry b kehdty thy.

STORY 2:
I was overseeing construction our new house. It was my first experience. Somebody gave me 100 bags of sub standard cement. I protested. He first refused to accept his fault and then blatantly challenged me to do whatever I can to recover my amount.

I believed in truth of my cause and had trust that I would be compensated for the wrong. I went to PS wapda town and gave an application. I was contacted by an ASI who called me to PS at 6pm and said he has called other party as well. I went there and called ASI.

But he said, meet me at Abu Bakr Chowk. I said, you've called me at PS so I won't meet you outside. He came back with eyes red and mouth foaming. Took me to Muharrar's room and asked me to explain my case. When I was going to start. He suddenly asked, who's the owner of house?

I replied my father. He said, go call him.

Sir wo filhal naheen asktay. He is out of Lahore. I'll be following the case and I purchased those cement bags.

Tery bap ki tangain tuti hain, jo nhi aaskta? Or mjhy na bta kia krna plus Some abuses which I don't even want to recall.

I lost my cool and retaliated, then other policemen intervened and forced me out of PS.

I was shocked & shaken, why he was treating me like a criminal instead. He didn't even bother to listen what I had to say. Then I did, what I was avoiding to do all along. I called my father.

Got a call from SHO and ASI, after 2 days. They asked, what time could I come to PS. I went to ASI's office. Other party was sitting there. ASI stood up, embraced me and apologized for earlier events. He ordered a large Domino's pizza and asked other party to pay the compensation

Other party, took me outside, paid the amount and asked for a favour. I said what was it? They said, plz take back this application against us today. Otherwise, that ASI would take another 10,000 for taking closing the case?

I said what do you mean by another 10,000?????

They said, ASI called us two days ago at 5pm. He took 10,000 from us to drive you away from PS and for settling the case without any proceedings. I said to myself, OK now I understand everything.

STORY # 3:
I was awarded best young photographer prize by UNICEF. They sent me a camera from Greece. I got a call from GPO Lahore to receive the parcel. I went there. They asked me to pay 17,000 as clearance duty for the product. I demanded, how did they calculate that?

When I decoded everything, it turned out to be actually 1,500 rs. I paid that. I had to get a clearance signature from some CSP postal officer. He didn't sign that. I went back to home. I kept trying but he won't sign and won't tell the reason. Finally, one day, his Naib Qasid,

Took me aside and asked for some clearance bribe. I flatly refused. He replied, you would have to wait for ages then. Disappointed, I called my father yet again and I got my camera very next day.

This was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

I was offered a promotion as Deputy GM of company within 9 months of appointment. I resigned instead.

I always wanted to be a PAS for totally different reasons but these stories gave me an urgency to act.

You should not need an introduction to get a right thing done.

Joining civil services is an act of survival in Pakistan.

It is upon us who have joined this service that we turn it into an act of defiance against injustice, inefficiency and malpractices.