May 03, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 26, 1429

SUKKUR, May 2: The education authorities are conducting a high-level departmental enquiry against the former EDO of education Abdul Ghaffar Mahar, who faces charges of appointing 72 lower-cadre staff who were not on a merit list issued by the Sindh Education Department, sources in the department said on Thursday.

They said that the former EDO had received a list of 290 candidates during Arbab Rahim’s tenure for issuing them appointment letters but the officer besides issuing letters to the candidates on the list, also appointed 72 people of his choice in different cadres, who were not on the list.

The department had ordered cancellation of all the appointments and offer letters issued by Arbab Rahim government since Oct 24, 2007 and onwards after formation of Pakistan People’s Party government in Sindh, the sources said.

EDO Jai Ram Das on receiving a letter from the ministry of education on Wednesday terminated the services of 48 lower-cadre employees, and also cancelled offer letters issued to 235 primary school teachers, 69 junior school teachers and 52 lower grade employees.

Rally: Scores of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan activists took out a rally and staged demonstration at the Clock Tower roundabout here on Friday against price hike, unemployment and lawlessness.

Protesters led by Provincial President JUP Mufti Mohammad Ibrahim Qadri began the rally from Ghousia Mosque and marched on main roads raising slogans against price hike, unemployment, and lawlessness. Protesters reached Tower Clock where a demonstration was held.

Addressing protesters, Mr Qadri, Musharraf Mehmood Qadri and others said that people had pinned hopes on the new government but despite the lapse of one month the government failed in providing relief to people.

They said people were irked by the poverty and unemployment and committing suicides due to the hell-bound pressure of the three.

They said people voted for this government on promises that after coming into power it will provide relief to people but nothing done so far.

They further said wheat flour, rice, vegetable ghee, sugar, pulses and other edible items were out of reach of the poor people due to rising prices.

Leaders strongly slammed recent increase in the prices of petroleum products and demanded of the government to fulfil the promises it made with the people.

Fire: A fire gutted household items of 25 homes, stocks of grain, and burned 15 cattleheads in three villages near Thull on Friday.

Fire broke out in Naseer Khan Bhangwar village which engulfed two other nearby villages, including Nizamuddin Khoso and Najam Jarwar.

Villagers told newsmen that despite timely information the Thull Fire Brigade failed to reach the spot upon efforts were made by the villagers to extinguish fire on self help basis.