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| April 13, 2002 | Saturday | Muharram 29, 1423 |
Officials warned of axe on failure to attend meeting
FAISALABAD, April 12: All the government and local bodies officials have reportedly been asked to attend Sunday’s public meeting of President Gen Pervez Musharraf otherwise they would face “legal action”.
Special circulars issued by heads of government departments, educational institutions, autonomous bodies, local government and semi-government departments have been given to the employees of basic scale 1 to 20 directing them to remain present at the venue of public meeting till its completion despite weekly day off.
The following is the original text of the notice issued on April 10 by the head of a local institution:
“As per direction of the higher authorities, it is desired that all the officers/officials in BS 1 to 20 must attend the public meeting headed by the worthy President of Pakistan on Sunday, 14th April, 2002, at 3:00 P.M. at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. All officers/officials are hereby directed to be present at the venue on the said that and time. The presence of all staff should sign his presence there is obligatory everyone without fail. Any one being absent from the occasion shall personally responsible. The institution will remain closed on 15.04.2002 (Monday) in lieu of Sunday”.
Meanwhile, some of the employees of local government were seen installing signboards and big size portraits of Gen Musharraf and hanging banners inscribed with slogans in favour of referendum and policies of the rulers outside the Iqbal Stadium.
Some industrialists are reportedly making arrangements to give lunch for the meeting participants on the request of high ups of local administration and elected representatives.
District Nazim Zahid Nazir is holding meetings with elected representatives and government officials to make the public meeting a success.
It will be the second time that a referendum campaign is being held at the Iqbal Stadium. The first such campaign was organized for Gen Ziaul Haq.
Preparation: The entire government machinery and official funds are being utilized for the arrangements of President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the district as a part of the country-wide campaign for referendum.
A survey conducted by this correspondent on Friday revealed heads of almost all the government departments were busy canvassing to ensure maximum participation of employees in the public meeting to be held on April 14 (Sunday) at Iqbal Stadium.
The government had directed employees of various departments to participate in the public meeting.
Special circulars have been issued by the heads of the educational institutions, autonomous bodies, local governments and semi-government departments, directing the employees to be present on the occasion despite weekly holiday.
Meanwhile, the local government employees were seen installing signboards and portraits of the president to make function more colourful.
Local industrialists were making arrangements for lunch for the participants on the request of local administration’s officials.
On the other hand, local leaders of PPP, PML-N and JI have criticized the steps taken by the district government for arranging a political gathering which, they said, was a clear violation of local government ordinance, 2001.
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