DADU, Sept 28: The district nazim has constituted a six-member committee to investigate into charges of embezzlement in GP funds, increments, salaries and allowances of employees of the agriculture department and illegal appointments in the department.

The nazim, Malik Asad Sikandar, took the action after receiving complaints from some employees of the agricultural department. One complainant has accused an officer (agriculture) of embezzling, with the help of clerks, Rs32,845 of an employee of the agriculture extension wing, Phulji Station, Basheer Ahmed Jhatial, on account of his GP fund and advance bills.

Mr Jhatial said that he had sent an application to the president, prime minister, Sindh governor, chief minister and high officials of the agriculture department. He alleged that the officer received bribe on monthly basis from those who were selling fake pesticide in the district.

He alleged that the officer had illegally appointed people on posts which had become vacant after 14 employees had retired and nine died. The district nazim said that there were also other complaints against the officer. The committee will be headed by Nazim of Khudabad union council Mohammad Paryal Birhamani.

STRIKE: Shopkeepers running their business in the shops of the district council observed a strike and held a demonstration here on Tuesday to protest against a recovery inspector of tax branch of the district government for allegedly demanding bribe from them.

They alleged that the recovery inspector had threatened to increase rent of the shops if the shopkeepers did not pay him bribe, and appealed to the district nazim and DCO to take notice of the matter. They regretted that the district council received rent from the shopkeepers every month but provided no facility to them.

PROCESSION: Tapedars of the Dadu district took out a procession in Mehar on Tuesday to pressurize the authorities to accept their demands. They were led by president of the Tapedars' Association Imdad Ali Buledi. Mr Buledi said that the government did not provide facilities to Tapedars and other revenue employees.