JACOBABAD, Nov 13: Internees of the newly-introduced Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Youth Development Programme took out a protest rally here on Thursday against the non-payment of dues and EDO’s reluctance to take them back on duty.

The rally started from the EDO health office and after marching on city roads reached the DCO Chowk from there protesters proceeded towards press club where a token hunger strike for two hours was observed.

The internees, including malaria supervisors, vaccinators, watchmen and drivers told journalists that they were selected through interviews and written examinations on merit and issued appointment orders by the Project Director Dr Shafqat Hussain Abbasi.

The internees began working from September 1 and were paid stipend even after the lapse of almost two and a half months, they said while the EDO Health had refused to take them back on duty. They alleged that an employee of the health department was demanding bribe for releasing their stipend and taking them back on duty.

They said that they were compelled to resort to strike because of the absence of support of influential people.

They demanded payment of stipend and permission to rejoin their training.