HYDERABAD: Unsuccessful candidates of the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 called off their hunger strike unto death on its fifth day here on Wednesday, after Sindh’s nationalist leadership and civil society representatives urged them to end the strike but continue their movement.
The condition of one of their colleagues, Altaf Lanjjo, had become critical over the last five days, and he had to be hospitalised, where he was given the necessary treatment; he restarted his hunger strike a couple of days ago.
Five candidates — leaders of the Sindh Students Action Committee, including convener Zabiullah Mastoi, Wajahat Hingorjo, Fakhar Zaman Khuhnaro, Sikki Ladho Chandio and Hussain Bux Chandio — had started a hunger strike unto death on Sept 12. Two activists, Imran Baloch and Altaf Lanjjo, had also started a hunger strike unto death with them as a mark of solidarity.
According to Hussain Bux Chandio, the protesting candidates ended their strike after Sindh’s nationalist leaders — including Sindh United Party president Syed Zain Shah, Sindh Tarraqi-Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, Dr Bukhshal Thallu, bar representatives, civil society members and others — advised them to call off their hunger strike unto death but continue their movement against the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC).
He said the protest camp that had been set up on July 24 would continue, and the committee would formulate a strategy to continue the protest in Hyderabad and outside the Chief Minister House in Karachi as well, after due consultation.
Syed Zain Shah and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr visited them. Zain Shah said their lives were more precious than those of Sindh’s corrupt rulers, and that they should continue their movement. Dr Qadir Magsi, during his visit to the camp, offered juices to the protesting candidates.
The protesters were demanding a retest of CCE 2024, the dismissal of SPSC management, reforms in the commission and the formation of a judicial commission to probe alleged irregularities in the examinations.
Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026
