SWABI, Sept 16: Employees of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), Swabi, on Friday boycotted their duties to protest against what they called illegal appointments made by the tehsil municipal officer (TMO) and announced to start hunger strike from Sept 22 at Karnal Sher Khan Chowk if the decision was not withdrawn.

Briefing media persons, Shaukat Ali Anjum, general secretary of the United Municipal Workers Union, said that the municipality employees were forced to protest against the TMO Aminul Haq, as he had already been transferred to the Local Council Board while Mohammad Aqil, the new TMO transferred from Mardan to Swabi, had taken charge on Sept 8.

“Both the appointments made by Mr Haq and his stay in the office of TMO are against the law,” he said.

The union leader said that the former TMO was sticking to his post and appointed eight people on different low level posts after his transfer, which were being opposed by the employees. The workers have also refused to obey his order, saying that they can't tolerate two bosses at one post, he said.

The employees alleged that the officer was enjoying patronage of the members of the ruling party and claimed that Mr Haq had been telling them that he was ordered by the ruling party minister to continue his work.

The protesters claimed that they knew the MPAs who had been struggling for the cancellation of his transfer to the Local Council Board.

They questioned that how two officials could work on one post of the TMO and demanded cancellation of the new appointments, terming them illegal. The TMA employees vowed to continue their protest until Mr Haq relinquished his charge as TMO.

Meanwhile, All Government Employees Coordination Council has called its meeting on Saturday (today) to discuss the latest developments and extend support to the TMA employees.—Correspondent