10 Questions with Mirza M. Imran | 6th Position CSS 2013

10 Questions with Mirza M. Imran | 6th Position CSS 2013

JWT is extremely helpful and highly inspiring for CSS students, especially with its hawk-eye analyses of, and critical approach to, various national and international issues.

Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): First of all, for the interest of JWT readers and CSS, PMS aspirants, please tell us about your academic background.

Mirza Mohammad Imran (MMI): I belong to Jalalpur Jattan; a historic town in the suburbs of Gujrat. After my early education from Jalalpur Jattan, I did DAE from Govt. Swedish Pakistani Institute of Technology Gujrat. Afterwards, I did graduation and then earned my Master’s degree in English Literature from University of the Punjab.

JWT: Why PSP was your first choice?
MMI: There are two reasons for making PSP my top priority:

First, if you look around, you will find that injustice and discontentment among people are all too conspicuous. The poverty-stricken and downtrodden masses are helpless and are also hopeless. I have a strong conviction that in this bleak scenario only a true police officer can help mitigate the people’s sufferings. I am highly thankful to Almighty Allah for providing me with an opportunity to be a part of the PSP.

Second, I have already been serving in police department. Now, as a part of the higher hierarchy of this department, I would have more opportunities to serve my people as well as my country.

JWT: Your thoughts would surely inspire students to go for the CSS, so what would you advise them in this regard? And, how, in your opinion, Jahangir's World Times (JWT) can be a rich source of guidance for them?

MMI: They say no journey is long when dreams are big. So, we should dream big but should also make relentless efforts to achieve those dreams. Life, from start to end, is itself a competition the success in which can change your life. Likewise, success in any competitive exam, particularly CSS, changes the nature of competitions one would face in future.

Understanding one's intellectual appetite, weaknesses and complex nature of the fate-game, and then working on achieving dreams with sheer perseverance and undeterred commitment, mark a journey that would surely end in success.

I believe JWT is extremely helpful and highly inspiring for CSS students, especially with its hawk-eye analyses of, and critical approach to, various national and international issues.

JWT: You scored well in two crucial papers: Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs. Please share how did you do it as these two papers, traditionally, are less scoring?
MMI: I don't think any paper of CSS exam is less scoring. Only sincere guidance and working with objectivity are required to get through those. Now, as far as my performance in these papers is concerned, I am highly indebted to my mentor and guru, Sir Abdul Rasheed, who inculcated in me the quest for scientific understanding of the universe. It is only due to this that atlas-reading is one of my hobbies — I also mentioned it in my psychological assessment.

Along with this, the reading of authentic writers like Ian Talbot, Hamza Alvi, K.K. Aziz, K.B. Saeed and Dr Eqbal Ahmad helped me in developing critical understanding of these subjects.

JWT: To whom would you give the credit of your success?
MMI: First of all, I thank Almighty Allah for blessing me with success. Prayers of my parents, cooperation of siblings and guidance of my kind teachers contributed a lot in my success. I dedicate this achievement to my father, and to my spiritual fathers Mr Abdur Rasheed, and Mr Altaf Hussain Ansari; my guru and a man of all seasons.

JWT: How one can make a difference in written part of CSS exam?
MMI: One must be very clear about one's positive points as well as shortcomings. In CSS, performance in written part is crucial and more important than anything else. One can make a difference by writing relevant, to-the-point and simple answers.

JWT: What strategy did you adopt for English Essay and Précis & Composition papers especially keeping the fact in view that most candidates flunk these very papers?
MMI: I think, the Essay paper requires creative writing. So, well-developed thoughts expressed in lucid language do the trick. I used to write essay, at least, once a week with a comprehensive brainstorming on different topics.

JWT: What is the best way to choose optional papers and how did you get excellent scores in Persian and Punjabi?
MMI: Know thyself; sort out your interest and taste, then go for optional papers. I scored well in Punjabi and Persian because literature is my forte. Students try to go for the subjects that are considered scoring but I would suggest that one must follow one’s intellectual faculties. Students must understand it. Just try to opt for those subjects which help you in preparing for other subjects too.

JWT: How one can adopt a balanced approach while preparing for compulsory and optional subjects?
MMI: Each subject has its own weight in CSS exam. Therefore, one has to give proper time to each subject.

JWT: How was your interview with the panel?
MMI: It was really a wonderful experience. About ninety-five per cent of it was as per my expectations, and calculations. It all happened in a candid environment. During the whole interview, my focus was on leaving grey areas for the panel members.

Before appearing in any interview, one must know oneself, family, district of domicile, education, job (if any) and the post applied for. Never lie in your psychological assessment and be genuine in interview.

Source: Jahangir's World Times