KARACHI, Jan 31: A large number of candidates, who had taken written test in December, 2003, for 753 lecturers' posts at Sindh colleges, were seen perplexed outside the offices of EDO (Education) and Sindh education department on Saturday , looking for the list carrying names of the candidates qualifying for interviews.

Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat had announced at a recent press conference that only 25 per cent candidates could qualify for the final interviews to commence on Feb 23.

Sindh education department has announced the test results after a one-and-a-half-month delay, although the test conducting, privately-run institute had handed over the list to the education department within 10 days of holding of the test.

On Saturday, a large number of candidates gathered outside the EDO office at the Civic Centre and office of Sindh education secretary, situated at Sindh Secretariat, Tughlaq House, to know their results, but to their surprise, officials at both the offices had no information about the list.

Later, the EDO office staff placed a notice at their notice board, apologizing for not receiving any list of successful candidates and asking the candidates to contact Sindh education department.

Similarly, provincial education department staff also expressed ignorance regarding any list of the candidates qualifying for the interviews.

Mr Marwat had announced, at the said press conference, that the list of successful candidates would be sent to EDO (Education) offices in all districts of Sindh.

Meanwhile, commenting on a statement issued by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat said no lecturers were being appointed on any 'recommendations.'

However, he alleged that some MMA parliament members had provided a list of recommended candidates, which, in case of further pursuance by the MMA, would be made public. The recommendations had been received even from the top MMA leaders, the minister claimed on Saturday.

He further argued that MMA's concern over alleged corruption in the forthcoming lecturers' recruitments was unjustified because the process had not even been started as yet.

There was no corruption in the Sindh Text Book Board, he said, adding in case there was any proof of such practice, it should be brought forward, otherwise proof would also be furnished regarding 'corruption' in the MMA-run local bodies institutions.

He asked the MMA leadership to desist from mudslinging and invest their energies on betterment of the poor people of Sindh.-PPI