Disputed sign board helps youths get jobs

Published February 5, 2002

THATTA, Feb 4: A sign board inscribed with “Jinnah’s Jherruck” erected on the National Highway helped about two dozen unemployed youths to get soldier’s job at their doorstep a few days ago.

Sadiq Hussain Khwaja, a mechanical engineer by profession and an activist on the controversial issue of the birthplace of the founder of Pakistan, told Dawn that the board erected by the Quaid-i-Azam Yadgar Committee after a recent seminar on the subject invited the attention of a Thatta bound army recruitment team comprising a colonel and others.

The army officials went to Jherruck police station and summoned the committee office-bearers, Mushtaq Mallah and others, through police.

The committee office-bearers told the army team that besides trying to set the record straigth, they believe that the tiny town of Jherruck would get world attention on being recognized as Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s birth place.

Besides, the town would get more development funds and its unemployed youth would get employment, they added.

At this point, the army team prepared a list of 25 young men, called them at Sindh Regiment office in Hyderabad the next day and enrolled them except few for jobs in army.

Though their medical test is yet to be conducted in Thatta on Monday, the energetic young men are confident to get through it.