GUJRANWALA, May 24: The excise and taxation department on Wednesday sealed properties of over 500 defaulters and impounded vehicles of some senior officers of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) during a recovery drive here.

Reports said these defaulters could not clear their outstanding dues despite issuance of final notices by the department.

The PTCL had not been paying property tax of its many buildings since 1996 as a result of which the excise department seized vehicles of some of its senior officers. Later, the PTCL issued a cheque of Rs4.5 million to the department and got released the vehicles.

Meanwhile, excise and taxation officer (administration) Syed Muhammad Uzair Shah told the press that properties of those who had cleared their dues had been restored. He claimed that the department would meet 100 per cent recovery target by June 30.

Clerks strike: On the call of All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), low-paid employees of all government and semi-government departments observed a complete pen-down strike here on Wednesday to press for their demands.

The protesters held protest meetings at their office, demanding increase in salaries according to inflation.

They alleged that sugar millers were members of the cabinet, earning billions of rupees profit while commoners were facing a tough time.

APCA divisional president Tahir Mahmood Bhatti and other office-bearers visited various offices and reviewed the strike.

WOMAN KILLED: A woman was shot dead by her brother over a family dispute here on Wednesday in Qila Dedar Singh.