LAYYAH, May 12: The Education Department has out of turn promoted women teachers at the recent meeting of the department promotion committee (DPC), Dawn has leant.

The DPC promoted PTC teacher Shazia Tabasum to the next grade against laws. The teacher was appointed in 1998 and dismissed after an army monitoring team declared her appointment bogus. She also faced an Anti-Corruption Establishment inquiry but the department reinstated her in 2005 allegedly on the orders of influential officials and political personalities. The inquiry is now buried under files. She was promoted along with her mother who is also a PTC teacher.

Qamar Iltaf, another PTC teacher, was on a long-leave but the period of her leave was included in her service. Department rules state that undue leave of officials will not be included in the period of service. Ms Altaf is stated to be the sister of a deputy district education officer of Karor La Esan.

The department (female wing) also posted three teachers on administrative posts who were recently promoted from the EST grade to the SST grade. Department service rules say the senior most officials with 10 years experience of service are eligible for administrative posts. Recently promoted teachers Kalsoom Akhter, Kalsoom Rani and Abida Sultana were posted assistant education officers in Chowk Azam, Karor Lal Esan and Kot Sultan.

Education Executive District officer Hafiz Abdul Wahid said promotions were made strictly on merit but he would look into the matter if any irregularity was found in the promotion of the officials.