NAWABSHAH, March 28: District Nazim Faryal Talpur has strongly opposed the transfer of the EDO (education) during interviews for appointment of teachers, and accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League of conspiring to allow for appointments on the basis of favouritism.

Talking to journalists at a press conference held at the press club here on Monday, Ms Talpur said that a committee was formed by the Government of Sindh to conduct interviews for 700 posts of primary, junior and high school teachers; however, while the interviews were being conducted, the committee was changed and EDO (education) Dr Rafiq Ahmed Siddiqui was transferred through the DCO.

It was a conspiracy to appoint teachers on the basis of nepotism, she feared, adding that candidates, who had obtained up to 96 per cent marks in the written test, would not be given chance in the interviews since two members of the committee, DDO (revenue) Agha Fakhar Hussain and DO (secondary education) Ghulam Rasool Keerio, were changed exactly on the day of the interview.

She claimed that the DCO, on receiving his orders directly from the Chief Minister House, verbally directed the EDO (education) to leave charge immediately and handed him a transfer letter.

She said that the government claimed to improve the educational system through reforms and raise Pakistan to the international level of education, but in sharp contrast, such things were being done.

She had written letters to the President and the Prime Minister as well as MNAs and MPAs, she said, and added that international donor agencies, which were providing funds for the betterment of education, should take notice of such irregularities.

Ms Talpur demanded that the President, Prime Minister and the federal education minister should intervene in the matter so that appointments could be made purely on merit basis.

When this correspondent tried to contact DCO Mohammad Usman Panhwar, he was told that the DCO had gone to Sakrand for a meeting.