September 14, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 13, 1429

JACOBABAD, Sept 13: A protest rally was taken out by the Mazdoor Shehri Ittehad against the issuance of cheque of Rs30.576 million by roads department Jacobabad to a labour leader on Saturday.

The rally was taken out by Mazdoor Shehri Ittehad for the fourth consecutive day. The rally started from Shaheed Allah Bux park.

The protesters were carrying banners, placards and raised slogans against DO roads Jacobabad. The rally was led by president of Mazdoor Ittehad, Haji Ghulam Nabi Rind, Shahban Majhoo, Abdul Karim Pathan, Roshan Mundrani and Ghulam Rasool Soomro.

The rally participants reached outside the press club after marching on various roads of the city.

Speaking on the occasion, the labour leaders said that wages and pension of retired employees amounting to Rs30.576 million had been given to labour union leader Manzoor Arheer and the list of employees was not available in the office.

They said the fake names of employees in roads department were included and the cheque was issued fraudulently in the name of Manzoor Areeher, a union leader.

When contacted, the DO roads Abdul Khaliq Panhyar said that cheque of Rs30.576 million has been given to Manzoor Areehar who was the attorney of employees and was general secretary of a union representing the labours. He further said that the cheque could not be cashed. The EDO works, Liaquat Baloch, refused to meet this correspondent.

RELEASED: Kidnappers released on Saturday three hostages taken three days ago from Garhi Khairo.

Police claimed that they compelled the kidnappers to free the hostages Nirmaldas, his grandson Ritik, 6, and driver Razzaq Babar by carrying out several raids on their hideouts.

The president of Hindu Panchayat, Ramesh Lal, said that the hostages were released due to efforts of police and local influential persons.

Ramesh Lal insisted that they had been released without paying any ransom and that the bandits had left them near the railway crossing of Garhi Khairo.