AI manipulation claimed in PARC hiring; 105 candidates still waiting

The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security erupted in controversy today as concerns over recruitment at the Pakistan

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security erupted in controversy today as concerns over recruitment at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) were aired with unprecedented intensity. Senators claimed that the federal research body may have violated constitutional equity, leaving candidates from Sindh and Balochistan sidelined while Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa dominated appointments.

At the heart of the storm are 230 vacant posts at PARC. Although the posts were advertised nationwide and tested through the third party Candidates Testing Services (CTS), only 125 candidates have received appointment letters, leaving 105 hopefuls in limbo. Senator Poonjo Bheel voiced sharp criticism, accusing PARC of sidelining smaller provinces, potentially breaching Article 38(g) of the Constitution. “Appointments have disproportionately favored Punjab and KP,” he warned, “while Sindh and Balochistan candidates are deprived of their due share.”

PARC representatives defended their process, noting that a few Sindh candidates were appointed purely on merit and promising interviews for remaining Sindh and Balochistan candidates in the coming week. Yet, the Committee remained unconvinced. Senators stressed that results should be announced simultaneously across all provinces, warning that staggered releases could create perceptions of bias.

The session took an even more sensational turn when officials revealed allegations of a coordinated propaganda campaign against PARC. Officials claimed that artificial intelligence (AI) may have been used to manipulate recruitment results, prompting the Committee to recommend immediate show cause notices for any employees involved in such activities.

The Chairman directed PARC to submit a detailed list of the appointing authorities responsible for each recruitment decision and a comprehensive record of the 105 pending candidates’ interviews. The Committee demanded transparency and accountability to prevent further distrust in the nation’s premier agricultural research body.

The Committee’s stern message made it clear: “Merit alone cannot justify provincial inequity, and any manipulation digital or human will not be tolerated.”

The meeting was attended by Senators Rahat Jamali, Shahadat Awan, and Poonjo Bheel, with the agenda moved by Senator Shahadat Awan deferred due to the absence of the Federal Minister and Secretary.