01 November 2004	Monday	17 Ramazan 1425

HYDERABAD, Oct 31: A group of former employees of the Sindhi Adabi Board staged a demonstration outside the Hyderabad press club on Sunday in protest against the non-payment of their pension and gratuity.

Talking to newsmen, Ali Nawaz Kehar, Mohammad Bux Mangrio, Jan Mohammad Tagar and Rafique Khaskheli said the board's secretary had relieved 25 employees and they were adjusted in other departments.

They said the treasure office had made it clear that unless a letter of terms and condition of their services about pension and gratuity was received from the concerned authorities, they would not be paid pension and gratuity as well as the salary for the intervening period. They levelled charges of favouritism and nepotism against the secretary of the board and said he had appointed at least 20 new employees on the contract.

They appealed to the authorities to restore their pension and gratuity and order an enquiry into the affairs of the board.

SHOPKEEPERS FINED: Special district judicial magistrates has challaned 67 shopkeepers and fined them Rs17,750 on account of overcharging.

An amount of Rs9,900 was recovered from 34 shopkeepers in the City taluka, Rs3,200 from two butchers, milk sellers, shopkeepers and four fruit sellers in the Qasimabad taluka, Rs2,250 from two fruit sellers and 10 shopkeepers in the Tando Mohammad Khan taluka, Rs1,900 from a vegetable seller, a fruit seller and a shopkeeper in the Matiari taluka and Rs500 from five shopkeepers.