HYDERABAD, May 15: A large number of clerks of Kotri Barrage observed a one-hour pen-down strike and staged a sit-in outside the irrigation office, Barrage Colony, here on Wednesday to protest against the decision of the irrigation secretary to shift offices.

The protest was held under the banner of All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca), irrigation and power department.

Speaking on the occasion, Apca divisional president Ashraf Bozai alleged that since the secretary for irrigation knew nothing about the working of the irrigation department, he was making wrong decisions.

He said that by shifting the headquarters of the left bank circle, Phuleli Canal division, Pinyari circle and the headquarters of Kashmor, Jacobabad and Shikarpur superintending engineers, the secretary had created problems for the employees.

He said that under the rules, the headquarters had to be located near the barrages but the secretary had issued these orders to establish his secretariat in Nawabshah.