January 14, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 23, 1427

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DADU, Jan 13: Rallies were staged on Saturday in the city for and against a circle officer of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) who had arrested a number of revenue officials a few days ago on charges of corruption.

Employees of DCO, EDO revenue, mukhtiarkar’s offices of Johi, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar and officials of education, works and services department boycotted office work on the third consecutive day in protest against the arrest of an assistant of DCO office, Mohammad Suleman Solangi, tapedars of Kakar and Kotar Kakar tapa a few days ago.

Sindh Tapedar Association (STA) Dadu had given the call for boycott.

They also staged a rally which started from DCO office and ended in front of the local press club. Led by district president of STA Ayaz Ahmed they were demanding transfer of circle officer and early release of arrested employees.

When the rally reached the press club they were met by a large number of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) youth wing who were observing a token hunger strike there in support of the same circle officer and against the corrupt officials of district administration.

Enraged, the participants of employees’ rally uprooted the hunger strikers’ camp and forced them to call off their strike threatening them that if they again observed hunger strike in favour of the circle officer they would have to face cases against them. PML-Q leader Mir Sikandar Chandio later told reporters that they would continue their protest in support of the honest circle officer and against the corrupt officials.

Citizens Action Committee, an alliance of 22 social welfare organisations, also condemned the protesting government employees for attacking PML-Q youth wing camp and announced that the committee would also launch protest against the corrupt officials.