February 16, 2008	Saturday	Safar 08, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 15: The Pakistan People’s Party on Friday accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of recruiting 4,075 workers in the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) after the announcement of the election schedule.

Speaking at a press conference held at the People’s Secretariat, PPP’s central leader Taj Haider said that his party itself had always opposed retrenchments and supported creation of employment opportunities, but these appointments had been made against the rules and regulations and in sheer violation of the directives of the election commission with the sole objective of using these new entrants in the MQM campaign and on polling stations.

The PPP leader criticised the chief election commission for not taking any notice of the PPP complaints regarding pre-poll rigging.

He also pointed out that Muttahida-nominated candidates for the provincial assembly Moin Khan and Imamuddin Shahzad were also holding senior positions in the KWSB.

Mr Haider alleged that these candidates were running their election campaigns from the KWSB offices and were utilising the KWSB staff and resources.

Apart from the fresh recruitments, 87 promotions had also been awarded, he said.

He deplored that the most startling case was of a Beldar, Zafar Ahmed, who had been promoted from Grade-2 to Grade-16 as an assistant director, Helper Mohammad Asim from Grade-3 to Grade-14 as foreman (electrical), Chowkidar Imran Ahmed Siddiqui from Grade-2 to 14 as sub-engineer (civil), Coolie Mohammad Hussain had been promoted from Grade-2 to 14 as sub-engineer (civil) , Beldar Ahmed Ashraf from Grade-2 to 14 as sub-engineer (civil), Naib Qasid Zafar Iqbal from Grade 2 to 14 as sub-engineer (civil), Coolie Imran Azmatullah had been promoted from Grade 2 to 14 as sub-engineer (civil), Coolie Atiqur Rehman promoted from Grade 2 to 14, Health Worker Khuram Masood from Grade 1 to 11 as supervisor and Health Worker Mohammed Naveed promoted from Grade 1 to 10 as assistant foreman.

He alleged that these measures had been taken with the sole purpose of assigning these people with duties at polling stations in the general elections.

Mr Haider said that none of these appointees were performing their duties in the KWSB alleging that they were on duty in the MQM election campaign.

The PPP’s central leader said that the KWSB directors and deputy directors had been ordered not to disburse salaries to their staff members, unless they produced attendance certificates from UC nazims and town nazims as these nazims were looking after the election campaign of the MQM. Mr Haider urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action against the culprits.