PESHAWAR, March 5: A prosecution witness here on Monday deposed before an accountability court that none of the eight untrained teachers appointed in education department during the tenure of former NWFP chief minister Aftab Sherpao belonged to his (Sherpao) constituency.

The witness, a former provincial minister for primary education, Yousaf Tarand, was recording his evidence in a reference against Mr Sherpao about illegal appointments in education department. The prosecution has accused Mr Sherpao for giving approval for appointment of untrained teachers in Mansehra.

After recording evidence of Mr Tarand the court presided over by Attaullah Khan adjourned hearing to March 15. The witness stated that although he recognised signature of Mr Sherpao but he was not sure whether the signature of Mr Sherpao on a summary about appointment of untrained teachers was genuine or not.

He stated that a decision was taken in parliamentary party meeting about appointments of teachers. Moreover, he added that it was policy that if vacant seats were available after appointment of trained teachers, then untrained teachers could be appointed. Mr Tarand claimed that in one of the districts more teachers were appointed than the number of seats available, and when Mr Sherpao came to know about it he revoked those appointments.

Mr Tarand stated that at that time it was the policy that recommendations for appointments of teachers should be given by the concerned MPA. The policy was evolved, he stated, as when teachers were appointed from outside districts they normally did not turn up for duties.

Senior advocate Zafar Abbas Zaidi appeared for the defence and cross-examined the witness. Its worth mentioning that the prime accused in the reference, Habibur Rehman Tanoli, a former provincial minister, has already been acquitted in this case.