GILGIT: Scores of temporary lady health workers in Gilgit-Baltistan staged a protest sit in outside the Chief Minister house against suspension of their appointments. The protesters blocked River View road in Gilgit, despite harsh weather.

According to the protesters, the last GB government had advertised over 600 temporary posts of lady health workers in the national programme for family planning and primary health care in 10 districts of GB. Thousands of candidates had applied for the post.

After proper test and interview, conducted by the GB health department, the departmental selection committee issued notification and recommended over 600 candidates for appointment on the position on Nov 30, last year.

However, the very next day before issuing appointment letters, GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan suspended the appointments and saying that a large number of complaints were received regarding appointments on the posts. The chief minister had also constituted an inquiry committee to prove irregularities during the appointments.

The committee submitted their report in the first week of this month. Protesters said that they passed the test and interview and qualified for the posts, alleging that the GB chief minister along with others wanted to appoint their own candidates on the posts. They said that when these candidates could not qualify for the posts, the chief minister suspended their appointments.

The protesters said some successful candidates have also been given appointment letters, adding that it was unfair to deny services to candidates who had already qualified for the posts. They announced that they would continue their protest until their demands were met and added that the chief minister was also reluctant to make public the report of the inquiry committee.

They have urged the prime minister to take notice of this situation as no one has come forward from the government to negotiate with them.

They said the chief minister was also reluctant to talk with them.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2023