MINGORA: Scores of candidates who wanted to appear in the NTS test for the primary school teacher (PST) and CT posts staged a protest in front of the Swat Press Club after they were not allowed to enter the hall despite having the call letters here on Sunday.

The protesting candidates, accompanied by their parents, said that they had received the roll number slips for taking the NTS test, but were refused entry by the invigilators on the pretext that they did not have the national identity cards.

“When we reached our test centre at the government high school, Amankot, we were not allowed to enter the hall,” Andaleeb Rehmat, a female candidate, said.

The candidates said that they did not possess the national identity cards as they were below 18 years of age.

“We told the invigilators that we are below 18 and can’t have the ID cards, but the officials refused to allow us take the test,” said Hajra Bibi, another candidate.

Parents of the candidates demanded action against the invigilators for their unjustified refusal to allow their children to take the test.

Ibrar Ahmad, father of a candidate, said that they would move a court against the invigilators if the issue was not resolved within a few days.

TMA CRITICISED: The residents of Mingora have shown concern over garbage littered in the streets in Mingora town and demanded cleanliness on regular basis.

The residents complained that the tehsil municipal administration, Mingora, has failed to clean the city roads and streets where garbage and filth could be seen everywhere.

“I have not seen Mingora town clean for several months now. The authorities concerned have turned a blind eye to the dirty condition. Cleaners and workers of the TMA can be seen in some parts of the town, but they are not properly doing their duty,” said Ijaz Ahmad, a university student in Mingora.

People also showed concern over the frequent dumping of garbage in the two streams running through Mingora.

“Jambil and Marghazar streams have been turned into drains as not only the nearby residents throw garbage in the streams, but the TMA workers also do the same illegal act,” said Amajd Ali.

He said that throwing garbage in the streams was an offence under the law and the provincial government had also announced Rs50,000 fine and two-year imprisonment on throwing garbage in the streams and rivers.

The residents have demanded of the provincial government to take action against the authorities concerned for not ensuring cleanliness in the town.

MPA Fazal Hakim, meanwhile, said that the provincial government had a beautification plan for the Mingora town and work in this regard would be started soon.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015