BATTAGRAM: The Battagram chapter of all government employees’ grand alliance has asked the government to initiate a judicial inquiry against the district education officer women over what they said ‘financial corruption’ and illegal recruitments.

The demand was made at a meeting held at the government centennial model high school, Battagram, on Wednesday.

The 20 clerks, whom district education officer Zuhra Begum had ‘relieved’ of duties recently over harassment charges, were also in attendance.

The participants alleged that DEO Mr Zuhra had made recruitments and transfers and postings illegally during the past three years.

Mohammad Zubair Khan, the alliance’s chairman, who is also among the 20 clerks ‘relieved’ of duty, told Dawn after the meeting that her decision against the clerical staff was based on ill-will.

He alleged that DEO female had made recruitments without following merit.

Mr Zubair demanded transfer of the DEO and two assistant district education officers (ASDEOs) as they had ‘lost moral ground’ to run the affairs of the department.

He also asked the government to restore the relieved staff on their posts.

It is pertinent to mention here that Ms Zuhra had ‘relieved’ 20 male clerks of her office for allegedly harassing and threatening female ASDEOs.

She had also asked the district police officer to register cases against them.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2021