Only three of 1,024 candidates pass judges’ exam in Pakistan — Dawn
In Peshawar, Pakistan, only three out of 1,024 candidates passed the written examination to fill 105 vacant positions of civil judges-judicial magistrates and Alaqa Qazis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The results were announced by the provincial Public Service Commission, Dawn reports.
More than 3,000 applications
The Peshawar High Court announced the competition for BPS-18 positions in April 2026. The Commission received 3,097 applications and allowed all applicants to take the written examination in accordance with its schedule, but 1,024 candidates participated.
The examination was passed by Saba Rasool from South Waziristan, Abdullah Noor from Bajaur, and Syed Zahid Hussain from Mardan. The Commission instructed them to submit signed required documents within 15 days. Candidates may also apply for a recount of their marks.
Results by subject
The lowest pass rate was recorded in the English language and essay examination: 149 out of 1,024 participants passed it, while 875 candidates failed. The Urdu and essay examination was passed by 369 out of 654 candidates, while the Pashto and essay examination was passed by 335 out of 340.
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Of the 1,005 participants in the general knowledge test, 687 failed. The Civil Law I examination was passed by 587 out of 996 candidates, Civil Law II by 537 out of 996, and Criminal Law by 803 out of 996. Islamic jurisprudence was passed by 697 out of 993 participants.
Bar council reaction
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council expressed concern over the results and called for the relevant Public Service Commission notice to be withdrawn and reviewed. A council spokesperson said the results raise questions about the procedure for selecting judges, examination standards, and the candidate assessment system.
The council also asked the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court to review the entire examination process, the standards set, and the results. It said that if appropriate measures are not taken, it may resort to available legal mechanisms.
