HYDERABAD, Feb 15: Representatives of the Food Department Employees Federation have said that if two employees, Zafar Soomro and Najam Daudpoto, committed self-immolation in protest against non-regularisation of temporary watchmen and non-payment of three months salaries on Wednesday, the secretary food department will be held responsible.

Speaking to agitating employees of the food department outside the press club on Tuesday,union leaders Younis Rajpar, Mehboob Qureshi, Shabir Soomro, Gul Mohammad Janwari and Rehmat Umrani said earlier they had withdrawn their threat to commit self-immolation following an assurance by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim that their problems would be solved.

They said about 93 new employees had been appointed and were being paid salaries regularly. They said Zafar Soomro and Najam Daudpoto had gone missing and if they committed self-immolation, the chief minister would also be held responsible, besides the secretary food. They said payment of uniform had not been paid to them for the past six years.

MMA: Sindh Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal general-secretary Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro has also opposed the proposed bifurcation of the Hyderabad district.