September 28, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 27, 1429

MARDAN, Sept 27: Members of Mardan District Bar Association threatened to launch a protest campaign against the alleged appointment of judges on political grounds.

Lawyers’ representatives including Sajjad Mohmand and Wiqas Khan told a press conference here Mardan Press Club on Friday that some 58 vacancies for judges were announced by the Public Service Commission for which more than 3,000 lawyers of the province applied.

They said that fee was collected along with the applications. They said that it was learnt that a conspiracy was underway to confirm the contract judges on political grounds, while bypassing applicants from the process and without holding any exam.

They accused that MPA Abdul Akbar Khan of PPP had submitted a resolution in the provincial assembly for the confirmation of the contract judges, however the speaker constituted a three-member committee including Akbar Khan, Deputy Speaker Khushdil Khan and Barrister Arshad Khan ‘just to give it a legal cover’.

Advocate Wiqas claimed that confirmation of contract judges through a resolution from the assembly was a violation of the 1973 Constitution and was the usurpation of the right of the junior lawyers of the province. They demanded the government to conduct the exam in time as it was the legal requirement.

They warned that if the decision to confirm the contract judges was not withdrawn, they would launch a province wide protest drive against the government and would stage a set in outside the provincial assembly building.

BISE EMPLOYEES PROTEST: The employees of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Mardan staged a protest against the appointment of new assistant secretary (AS) Ihsanullah and locked the offices of the board here on Friday.

It was learnt that the NWFP ministry of education had sent AS Taj Mohammad Khan on deputation to Abbottabad by replacing him with Ihsanullah.

Ihsanullah was a teacher at Government Higher Secondary School at Garhi Kapoora, Mardan.

Demonstrators led by Rashid Gul and Iftikhar Khan staged a protest meeting inside the board where they condemned the appointment of new AS Ihsanullah in BISE Mardan and gave a three-day deadline to the officials to cancel the appointment immediately.

They claimed that it was the right of the employees of the BISE Mardan that a senior among them should be promoted and appointed on the position.

They warned that if the decision was not withdrawn, they would have no other option, but to lock the board offices and strike against the authorities.

The provincial Education Minister, Sardar Hussain Babak, suspended both Rashid Gul and Iftikhar Khan with immediate effect for holding strike and locking offices of BISE Mardan.

Talking to local journalists here in Mardan, the minister took strong note of the protest, saying strict action would be taken against the troublemakers. He said that such an act had no justification and it was up to the government to who it may transfer and appoint.

He also ordered an inquiry into the incident, adding that those found involved would be held accountable.

The employees after getting information about the minister’s action and suspension of the two employees, held a protest demonstration.