KARACHI, Dec 3: In a dramatic move, the Board of Directors of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) on Wednesday cancelled all the appointments made over the last two months.

According to fisheries sources, the decision was taken to save the Society from financial collapse.

The FCS administration, ignoring the directives from its chairman, had recruited a total of 418 employees in violation of the Society’s rules and regulations.

A stormy session of the Board was held at the Karachi Fish Harbour on Wednesday which was presided over by the FCS Chairman, Sardar Manzoor Ali Panhwar, who is the provincial Minister for Livestock and Fisheries. The session was attended by elected as well as the government’s nominated directors.

The meeting reviewed the Society’s financial position with special reference to the appointments made over the last two months. The facts came to light during the meeting raised many eyebrows.

Members of the Board were stunned when informed that a huge amount of four million rupees was disbursed under the head of wages disbursed among the newly appointed employees. The meeting was also informed that more than 50 new recruits could not be paid their salaries because of financial constraints.

When the FCS started appointing fresh staff two months back, there were a total of 87 vacancies and as many employees were recommended by government officials and other influential figures. The FCS administration resorted to recruit 148 employees, 25 of whom did not submit their joining report.

At its meeting, the Board decided to retain 57 of the fresh staff appointed on the basis of daily wages and son quota. Senior directors criticized the role of some of the directors and the manager administration and accused them of exceeding their authority. They took strong exception to the lavish expenditure by the FCS high-ups which, they said, caused a big loss to the Society.

The directors criticized the unwise policies of the administration due to which the FCS was now on the verge of collapse.