GILGIT, April 23: At least 45 municipal workers, allegedly recruited in violation of rules, have been sacked by Gahkuch municipal committee chairman Hashim Khan, sources said. They said that former chairman Khushi Mohammad had recruited the workers at a time when he was not a chairman. He had also made at least 40 recruitments in a single day in back dates.

The sacked workers included sweepers, assistant building inspectors, electricians and sanitary workers.

The sources said that about 39 ad hoc employees were already working in Gahkuch municipal committee and there was no budget to accommodate the sacked employees because they would cost Rs2.9 million.

However, a source in the local government said that the local government secretary had sought explanation from the municipal committee about the sacking of the employees.