MUZAFFARABAD, Sept 18: Over a dozen women staged a demonstration in front of the prime minister's secretariat here on Thursday to protest against alleged violation of merit in recent recruitment of primary teachers.

The demonstrators belonging to Leepa valley in southeast of Muzaffarabad were carrying a banner and placards and also torched the photocopies of their certificates and degrees to express their indignation against “disrespect to merit.”

They alleged that the education department had prepared a fake merit list to appoint the favourites of ruling party leaders or those who had gratified the appointing authorities. They demanded cancellation of all appointments and fresh recruitment through a transparent manner.

However, when contacted district education officer (female elementary) Kaniz Fatima asserted that all appointments had been made on merit.

She however assured that the department would address the concerns of any aggrieved person who would provide any evidence establishing alleged favouritism or malpractice in the appointment process.

The demonstration was latest in the series of strong public protest against the recruitment of nearly 1600 primary teachers in different areas of Azad Kashmir. On Friday last, women had staged a demonstration in the hometown of Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and pelted eggs and tomatoes on the education department offices.