HYDERABAD, May 12: City taluka municipal officer Asadullah Khan Rajput cancelled promotions of 126 employees under directives of the Sindh local government department on Wednesday. The decision has caused unrest among the employees, some whom had been awaiting promotion for 32 years.

City TMA employees closed offices on Thursday, claiming that the TMO had no authority to cancel the promotions under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001.

No office work was done in the TMA on Thursday after the TMO sent the list of the 126 employees to the local government department, quoting its letter for cancelling the promotions which were to be confirmed by the departmental promotion committee.

No inquiry was conducted to prove that the promotions were illegal.

The controversy dates back to March 2003 when then Sindh Local Bodies Minister Mohammad Hussain directed DCO Mukhtiar Ahmad Aziz on March 27 to suspended the departmental promotion committee. However, it has not been done till date. Also, there was no written directive for suspension of the committee as the minister had given his order by telephone.

The taluka nazim had given the promotions after entertaining objections of other senior workers.

Nine appeals had been filed against the promotions, two of which had been decided in favour of appellants and seven were yet to be decided.

The TMA employees said following division of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation into three taluka municipal administrations under the devolution plan, leading to distribution of staff of all cadres among the TMAs, promotions had become necessary on some important posts for smooth working of the municipal administrations.

As per the SLGO, nazims had powers of making appointments, transfers and promotions of employees of respective TMAs.

The local bodies adviser had termed the promotions illegal, saying the nazim had promoted his favourites.