THATTA, Oct 24: Head constables and constables in the Sindh police department complained of having been denied enhanced allowances announced in the annual budget of 1999.

Police sources told this correspondent that some 13,078 head constables and 66,334 constables relating to training and transport, Sindh Reserve Police, traffic, special branch, telecommunications, and district police throughout the province had been extended a total of Rs1,000 as allowances in the head of ration allowance fix, monthly TA and DA and constabulary allowance in the annual budget 1999 but it never materialized.

The then IGP, Sindh, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, in pursuance of the issue had approached the finance department through the provincial home department for the implementation and release of allocation but the matter remains in the doldrums.

On Nov 3, 1999, the then governor of Sindh, Air Marshal (retd) Mohammad Azeem Daudpota, had also directed the chief secretary, Sindh, to release the allocation meant for the enhanced allowances for Sindh police but nothing could be yielded.

On March 4, 2003, the Sindh cabinet in its meetings presided over by the chief minister, Sindh, Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, taking notice of the delay in release of payment to police, had asked the chief secretary, Sindh, to implement the budget facility.

Meanwhile, during convening of open Darbars of police authorities at various districts the head constables and constables had from time to time complained of the delay or denial of payment of the enhanced allowances.

They were of the view that owing to sky-rocketing inflation, they should be paid the allowance from the very day the budget 1999 started.

The matter was brought into the knowledge of Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, adviser to chief minister, Sindh, for the home and coordination department, by the head constables and constables at a meeting in Mirpurkhas. He moved the home secretary and provincial police officer, Sindh, for its implementation.