MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 2: Nearly 700 government employees observed a pen-down strike and staged a demonstration here on Tuesday to press the government to clip the wings of the Ehtesab Bureau by amending the accountability law "in conformity with the constitution".

The strike was triggered by arrests of three revenue department officials and an alleged attempt to apprehend another on the premises of the high court by the bureau in connection with separate embezzlement cases.

Accusing the bureau of overstepping its authority, the revenue department officials holding the positions of assistant commissioners and above observed acomplete strike. They also managed to get the support of two dozen other organizations of employees in their favour, following which a joint action committee was formed to wage a struggle against the bureau.

Participantswere holding banners and placards, inscribed with slogans against the accountability process and the bureau's chairman.