KARACHI, July 16: The Sindh Education department clarified on Friday that it had not received any complaints so far about payment of heavy sums for appointment of ad hoc lecturers by any official working under the previous set-up.

Referring to a news report published in Dawn on July 16, spokesperson for the department said if any such complaint is received, strict punitive action will be taken against the respective official.

Taking notice of the complaints of nepotism in the process of recruitment on the 750 posts of lectures, the newly inducted provincial minister for education had on July 13 ordered suspension of the recruitment process.

The spokesperson also denied setting up of any new complaint cell in the Education and Literacy department for receiving complaints against reported discrepancies in the appointment of ad hoc lecturers.

A previous cell is already operational at Sindh Secretariat building No 2 for receiving and examining complaints regarding discrepancies, under the administrative control of secretary education, added the spokesperson.