NOWSHERA, Oct 22: The Nowshera district coordination officer has cancelled appointments and promotions of 102 teachers. They were appointed in March 2004 by the executive district officer (education).

A tug-of-war had been going on between the DCO and the EDO since their appointment. The DCO termed the teachers' appointment illegal and said that he was the appointing authority but he was not consulted.

EDO Luqman Ali Khan said that he had taken approval from the previous DCO, Laiqur Rehman before making these appointments. In the past, teachers' associations had protested against the DCO's decision. The MPA concerned, Khalil Abbas, had also raised the issue in the NWFP Assembly but without any progress.

The provincial education minister, Maulana Fazal Ali, had assured the assembly that an inquiry committee would submit its report to the provincial assembly. But the DCO has cancelled the notification of March 2004 before the committee could submit its report.