Daily Times

KARACHI: While suspecting nepotism and favoritism in all the past inquiries conducted by Sindh’s education department regarding excessive appointments of teachers particularly of the Sindhi Language Teachers (SLTs), Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered a fresh inquiry into the matter, Daily Times has learnt.

According to the sources, the chief minister undertook a hearing of officials of the education department who were suspended with the allegations that they had been involved in excessive appointments of teachers in the department.

The suspended officers who appeared for the hearing included Farnaz Riaz, District Education Officer (DEO) Elementary Female, Attaullah Bhutto, Director Schools Karachi, Latif Mughal, DEO Elementary Male and Bashir Abbasi, DOE Secondary, Higher Secondary. However, Mumtaz Shaikh DOE Elementary Male and Director Schools Shamsuddin Dal did not bother to appear for hearing, sources reveal.

The chief minister was informed that Syed Neelofar Shah, DOE Secondary Female, Qasim Baloch, ex-Director Schools Karachi, Ahmed Nawaz Niazi,

Ghulam Rasool Jokhio, Abdul Jabbar Dayo, DOE Elementary Male, ex-Director Niaz Leghari, Sajan Mallah , Bashir Abbasi and many others were involved in excessive appointments however they have been given a clean chit in past inquiries following their strong political backing.

While listening to their genuine grievances, CM Murad Ali Shah directed the Secretary School Education Jamal Mustafa Syed to conduct a fresh inquiry into excessive appointments of teachers and submit a report within three months so in order to resolve the issue.

Sources said PPP-led Sindh government had announced to recruit more than 4,400 teaching and non teaching staff including 1300 SLTs in BPS-9, 14 and 15 with a condition that the candidate must have studied Sindhi as compulsory subject throughout his/her education from institutions of the metropolis.

The written test for the candidates was held at Safia Khanum Memorial School near Gurumandir for females and boys at Government Boys and Girls School Moosmiyat in March 2012. The interviews were conducted in April 2012 however the process was halted completely over the differences in the appointment procedure between ex-CM Qaim Ali Shah and Education Minister Pir Mazhar.