KARACHI, Feb 15: Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar has asked for a detailed statement of records from all provincial departments about recruitment made by them during the year 2003.

In a letter sent to all departments, from the Chief Minister's secretariat in this regard, all concerned departments have been instructed to submit the relevant information positively by Feb 20.

Informed sources told Dawn that various MPAs, particularly from Pakistan Muslim League- Q had lately complained that party workers were quite dejected over the attitude of Mahar government which instead of facilitating them were closer to opposition MPAs, particularly to PPP.

They also accused the chief minister of ignoring party supporters in recruitments made in various departments despite ban on employment. Last month the rebel group went to Islamabad to redress their grievances and the matter was brought to the notice of the party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, towards party affairs in the province,

Subsequently after a meeting between the rebel group led by Imtiaz Shaikh and Altaf Hussain Unnar, both ministers in the cabinet it was decided to form a sub committee to resolve the matter.

Later on, it is learnt when Chief Minister Mahar's attention was drawn towards the complaints by powerful quarters, the chief minister decided to furnish all details, particularly about recruitment in various departments along with details of the procedure adopted by the department in recruitment.

The controversy mostly pertains to appointments in lower cadre in the education, health and Auqaf departments where reportedly recruitments were made without merit and in violation of established procedure.

Earlier, following press reports of irregularities and lack of transparency in appointments in the education department the government decided to monitor all recruitments in public sector through the NAB to ensure observance of the rules.

This procedure was adopted as the department had plans to recruit some 7000 people as teaching and non-teaching staff. Besides, the violations of rules were also a direct contravention of the terms and conditions agreed upon by the provincial government with the World Bank with regard to interest free credit of US $ 300 million extended to it for structural adjustment.

In view of the criticism and accusations the chief minister has decided to obtain information beforehand so that he could respond to his superiors about mudslinging made against him by his adversaries.

Detailed and concise information has been sought from all departments including basic pay scale-wise, criteria/ eligibility, appointing authority, new appointments, composition of committee or panel constituted for said purpose and whether vacancies were advertised as specified under established procedure.