LAHORE, March 28: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has suspended recruitment process in the province following complaints of merit violation, an official handout said on Monday. The order is applicable to all departments and the district governments. The chief minister issued the order in response to complaints that merit is not being upheld in the ongoing recruitment process,” the handout said.

“After necessary measures for ensuring merit, the recruitment process will restart without any delay,” it added. Earlier, the chief minister said at a meeting of parliamentary party of the ruling PML and its allies that support price of wheat would be maintained at Rs400 per 40 kilograms come what may.

He said the government was fully aware of the problems of farmers and would not let prices of wheat and cotton fall. Nobody would be allowed to hamper economic and development activities in the country.

He expressed the hope that the people of Punjab and other provinces would not pay any heed to politics of agitation. “Politics has certain democratic norms and traditions which should be observed by all,” he added.

“There is a ban on taking out processions in Punjab and it is binding on every one, including the ruling party. However, the government has no objection to holding public meetings at specific places.”

Ambiguity and uncertainty in national politics has ended with the categorical announcement of President Gen Musharraf that election would be held only in 2007. The PML was fully prepared for local bodies elections according to schedule, he continued.

About the local bodies election, he said it would be held in two phases. The chief minister exhorted the PML workers to give priority to enrolment campaign and maintain unity among their ranks for ensuring thumping majority in local body elections. —Staff Reporter