November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

LARKANA, Nov 19: The family planning department wing of the All-Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) on Monday observed pen-down strike and held a general body meeting in protest against recruitment in government departments on political grounds.

APCA president of family planning department Peeral Dayo said at the meting that setting the tradition of making appointments on political grounds would have far reaching implications.

Doling out jobs in haste and haphazard manner had shattered the hopes of retired employees who had been waiting for long for their son’s jobs on sons’ quota, he said.

He said that the emergency had not been imposed to curb terrorism but it had been put in place only to protect what he called the corrupt and installing people of choice in the departments.

He said that the APCA stood for free press and an independent judiciary. Political interference had made the government departments a hostage and announced the association would move court against the officers who made the appointments in violation of the rules and merit.

LAWYERS: Members of the Larkana District Bar Association boycotted courts on Monday and brought out a procession in protest against emergency.

They marched within the boundaries of the court and also observed a token hunger strike.

They flayed the jail authorities of central prison for meting out inhuman treatment to the jailed lawyers and called for the restoration of constitution and release of lawyers and political workers.