BAHAWALPUR, May 22 United States Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson visited the historic town of Uch Sharif, about 75km from here, on Friday and inspected the rehabilitation work carried out at the shrine of Hazrat Jalaluddin Bokhari Surkhposh.

The American consulate general had given $50,000 during October 2007 for the restoration of the 15th century shrine.

Punjab Auqaf Secretary Qazi Afaq and Commissioner Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad briefed the ambassador about the conservation work.

Ms Patterson appreciated the work being done by artisans and masons. She underscored the need for preservation of Pakistani heritage for future generations, and said the United States had so far provided about $13.4 million for the conservation/restoration of 500 historic yet neglected sites across the country.

According to a source, she announced another Rs13.6 million for the restoration and rehabilitation of other shrines in Uch Sharif.

PROTEST Dozens of the candidates who failed MA English exams by the Islamia University, Bahawalpur (IUB), protested outside the vice chancellor's office here on Friday in protest against “flawed marking”.

Some of the protesters told Dawn on telephone that they were dissatisfied with the marking as the result was against their expectations. They demanded that the university review the result and provide them “justice”.

Faculty of Arts Dean Dr Najeeb Jamal and English Department Chairperson Mamoona talked to protesters and assured them of justice.

A university spokesman said there were only 20 to 25 candidates who had protested against the results. He claimed that their teachers had offered them re-checking of their answer books.

BAIL A local court on Friday granted interim bail to seven office-bearers of the Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajiran up to June 3.

The petitioners feared their arrest in cases registered against them under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order and sections 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for allegedly ransacking Wapda Complex and causing losses to the building and other materials while leading a protest demonstration against loadshedding on May 20.

Those who were given bail before arrest included association's president Hafiz Muhammad Younus, Tariq Abbasi, Sheikh Tasneem and Sheikh Qudrat Elahi Chann.

At a press conference with JUI and Jamaat Ahle Sunnat leaders Riaz Ahmad Chughtai and Rao Javed Iqbal here on Friday, Younus denied his involvement in the protest.

He said he always cooperated with the local administration in maintaining peace and creating harmony among different sects.

CLERKS Clerks of different government departments during their ongoing protest campaign for a 100 per cent increase in their salaries and other emoluments, observed a six-hour token hunger strike at four separate centres for the second consecutive day on Friday.

According to Fakharur Rahman Azhar, who is secretary-general of Apca's Punjab chapter, the token hunger strike camps would also be established at different departments here on Saturday.

According to him, the clerks would also set up a protest camp at Farid Gate on Tuesday to what he called “sell their children”.

He demanded an increase in their salaries with the proportion of the increased prices of wheat and regularisation of contractual and work-charged employees in different government departments.