KARACHI, June 2: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has stated that there is continuous interference of provincial ministers in the affairs of city government's education department.

In a letter sent to chief minister, the Nazim pointed out that the provincial government had lifted ban on appointments in education sector, but, at the same time provincial cabinet authorized a minister for recruitment in education department all over the province.

This decision was seriously affecting the devolution process, rather sabotaging the whole new local government system, he stated. Mr Khan said that the APT Rules authorized the city district governments for appointment of employees up to Grade-15 and Public Service Commission for higher grades.

In presence of these rules and the Sindh Local Government Ordinance that provides financial and administrative control of city government over all the departments de-centralized and devolved to it, he said that unfortunately vacancies in schools and colleges were being filled by provincial education department against the legal procedures.

The Nazim claimed that he had already apprised the chief secretary about the whole situation through a letter but to no avail. He said it was not understandable as to why the education ministry was interested in appointments beyond the set rules and procedure.

He said that the ministry had taken the whole affairs of appointment in its hand which, in fact, was damaging the authority of city government and likely to fail the its revitalization programme of education system.

Mr Khan believed that the whole exercise of appointments under the control of provincial education minister was politically motivated. The cases regarding bogus lists of applicants, fake examination centres and involvement of unauthorized personnel were on record and even witnessed by himself, he stated.

Naimatullah Khan requested the chief minister to take immediate notice of the situation and direct the provincial education department not to interfere in the affairs of city government so that appointments could be made purely on merit. -APP