MIRPURKHAS, June 20: Around 35 employees of education and literacy department, Mirpurkhas, have been deprived of payment of their difference bills despite the approval of Sindh finance department.

Akbar Khan, Rahim Bux Panhwar, Gul Hassan Lashari and other affected employees told journalists that a committee for scrutinising the cases of arrears on account of the difference of pay, move-over, selection grade and qualification increment pertaining to education and literacy department was held on May 12, which cleared 35 cases for payment during the current financial year 2007-08.

They further said that the Sindh finance department issued an order No. FD/SR-1/12 (4540/2001) dated May 13, to the district accounts officer of Mirpurkhas for payment and necessary action to release budget for difference bills during current financial years 2007-08.

They said that despite passing of a month, budget had not been released by the EDO finance of Mirpurkhas.

They further said that a representative delegation of Government Secondary Teachers Association, Gazetted Officers Association Mirpurkhas and Lower Staff Association Mirpurkhas met the EDO finance for releasing the budget of difference bills, but he refused on the pretext that no budget was available in district government’s account.

They said that these payment of those bills could only be considered during current financial year, as order of finance department was valid for current financial year.

They demanded of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to take immediate notice of their plight and ensure payment of their difference bills during the current financial year.

DACOITY: Bandits looted a tiles shop in daylight near Chandni Chowk, Satellite Town here on Friday.

Ahmed Khan was sitting in his shop when three armed men entered the shop and looted thousands of rupees at gunpoint and escaped on motorbike.

No case was registered till the filing of this report.

ELECTIONS: Annual elections of Institute of International Affairs Mirpurkhas were held here on Thursday.

Rais Ahmed Khan has been elected as president and Ubaid Faraz as general secretary.

Imtiaz Ali Panhwar, Ms Zeenat Panhwar, Ashraf Jan Mal, and Azhar Abbas are elected as vice president-I, vice president-II, joint secretary and treasurer respectively.