Tests postponed: Five arrested for creating trouble at recruitment centre
Protestors allege that the vacancies have been filled, test a sham.
GILGIT:
Police arrested five protestors outside a recruitment centre in Khaplu, Skardu for forcing the organisers to postpone tests and interviews for various vacant posts in the Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Health Department, sources said on Tuesday.
“Five protestors have been arrested for creating trouble during the tests and interviews,” the Skardu police said.
The health department was conducting tests for 25 vacant posts when about 300 protestors stopped the Chairman Selection Committee Dr Sadiq Shah from entering the examination hall, accusing him of facilitating illegal appointments for the vacant posts. They blocked the road outside the centre and chanted slogans against the government.
The protestors termed the test and interview an “eye-wash”, alleging the authorities had already filled the vacancies. “We have proof of these illegal appointments,” the protesters shouted.
According to the local people, the protesters belonged to Muttahida Quomi Movement (MQM), who had won a seat in the Shigar valley of Skardu in the 2009 general elections held in G-B. However the allegation couldn’t be verified as MQM leaders were not immediately available for comments.
Following the protest, the organisers contacted Minister Health Haji Gulbar in Gilgit who allowed them to put off the examination for an indefinite period. Allegations of appointments on political basis are common in G-B, where the absence of a private sector increases dependence on government jobs as compared to rest of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2011.
Police arrested five protestors outside a recruitment centre in Khaplu, Skardu for forcing the organisers to postpone tests and interviews for various vacant posts in the Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Health Department, sources said on Tuesday.
“Five protestors have been arrested for creating trouble during the tests and interviews,” the Skardu police said.
The health department was conducting tests for 25 vacant posts when about 300 protestors stopped the Chairman Selection Committee Dr Sadiq Shah from entering the examination hall, accusing him of facilitating illegal appointments for the vacant posts. They blocked the road outside the centre and chanted slogans against the government.
The protestors termed the test and interview an “eye-wash”, alleging the authorities had already filled the vacancies. “We have proof of these illegal appointments,” the protesters shouted.
According to the local people, the protesters belonged to Muttahida Quomi Movement (MQM), who had won a seat in the Shigar valley of Skardu in the 2009 general elections held in G-B. However the allegation couldn’t be verified as MQM leaders were not immediately available for comments.
Following the protest, the organisers contacted Minister Health Haji Gulbar in Gilgit who allowed them to put off the examination for an indefinite period. Allegations of appointments on political basis are common in G-B, where the absence of a private sector increases dependence on government jobs as compared to rest of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2011.