This has triggered widespread criticism about double standards
Underage hiring in the Sindh Police has come under intense scrutiny following a newly released seniority list of Grade-16 inspectors that reveals alarming irregularities.
According to the list issued by Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon, several officers were recruited before reaching the legal minimum age of 18 years.
This directly violates Pakistan’s Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules, 1973.
One officer, Mehboob Ali Mithani, was reportedly appointed at just 16 years, 10 months, and 11 days.
Similarly, Babar Ali Sheikh joined even earlier, at 16 years and 3 months.
Others, including Imtiaz Ali Thebo, Zahoor Ahmed Lashari, and Shah Jehan Lashari, were also hired while under the legal age threshold.
The same department recently disqualified three applicants from joining the force for exceeding the upper age limit by a few days or months.
Shehzad Khan missed eligibility by five days. Noor Muhammad exceeded the upper age limit by just one month. Farhan Ali Ahmed was over by three months and 12 days.
This has triggered widespread criticism about double standards in enforcing age-related hiring policies.
Observers say it’s deeply unjust that underage hiring is overlooked while candidates slightly above the upper age limit are rejected outright.
The list also includes officers who barely met the legal requirement, such as Mumtaz Rahoo, aged 18 years and 2 days.
Similarly, an applicant named Qamaruzzaman was aged 18 years and 6 days.
Many believe that if older recruitment records are fully reviewed, hundreds of cases of underage hiring may come to light.
This is not the first time such inconsistencies have been exposed within the Sindh Police.
Major discrepancies in a separate seniority list of 500 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) were previously reported.
Those records showed manipulation in age entries, appointment dates, and even alleged out-of-turn promotions.
Many of these officers are now serving in powerful roles, with access to official vehicles, high salaries, and various government perks.
Critics have called for accountability, especially for those who approved appointments that violate civil service regulations.
A user said: “Being overage is not even that big of a deal. A 16-year-old is literally an immature teenager!”
Another commented: “This is very concerning. How can they hire 16-year-olds in the police force?”
Whether these violations stem from clerical errors or deliberate manipulation, demands for transparency and corrective action are growing louder.
The recent revelations have further damaged public trust in a system already facing accusations of bias, loopholes, and institutional negligence.
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