GILGIT, Aug 28: The Northern Areas finance and revenue secretary Iftikhar Hussain Malik, who also holds the additional charge of education, health and local government, cancelled at least 206 fresh recruitment orders made by the outgoing health, education and local government secretary Mehr Dad.
The official sources said the jobs, ranging from grade 1 to 15, were given to different people between July 1 and Aug 31 in three departments by Mehr Dad reportedly without fulfilling the recruitment procedures.
In some cases, the candidates were hired in the higher grades despite their ineligibility for the posts.
The sources said the recruitments were made in haste by the former official as he attained the age of retirement on Aug 9, 2003, and, in one case, a woman in grade 1 was appointed upper divisional clerk (UDC).
These jobs would be refilled through proper recruitment procedure within weeks, the sources said. In a joint statement the Northern Areas Legislative Council member Syed Jafar Shah, Muttahida Qaumi Party chairman Maj (retd) Hussain Shah and PPP leader Rana Nazim Khan demanded an inquiry against the former secretary who allegedly recruited over 206 persons through misuse of his powers.
They opposed any plan to give service extension to the former secretary.
They appealed to the prime minister and president to appoint a thorough professional as head of education and health in the Northern Areas as this would open new job avenues for fresh graduates and promotions for the subordinate staff.
Ban imposed: The Northern Areas administration has imposed a ban on the sale and filling of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in the town areas of Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas.
It has also asked the LPG dealers to vacate their stations from the busy shopping areas with immediate effect.
Official sources said the step had been taken to preempt future incidents following the Giyal tragedy in which explosions killed scores of people on Aug 2 in Diamer district.
The sources said the administration has also asked the Northern Areas public works department not to issue explosive sticks and detonators without its permission.