NAWABSHAH, Jan 25 Dozens of doctors have protested against the provincial health department for not giving them jobs despite clearing written tests.

They observed a token hunger strike outside the press club here on Friday.

Doctors Action Committee chairman Dr Amjad Bhatti and general secretary Dr Aqeel Ahmed told reporters that on November 4, 2007, written tests had been conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS) for filling 1,605 vacant posts of medical officers, 615 specialist doctors and 704 nurses.

They said that 1,271 candidates had cleared the test, including 70 from Nawabshah. They said that despite the announcement of results, hiring letters had not been issued to successful doctors.

They said the NTS was a reputed organisation and tests were conducted on Sindh health department's request.

They alleged that hundreds of posts had been lying vacant, but the health department was deliberately not filling them.

THEFT A man stole Rs300,000 from a petrol pump here. Zakir Khan Pathan lodged an FIR against Nisar Mohammad, a resident of Swat. Nisar was a salesman at the pump and allegedly stole the money after breaking into the lockers.

ROBBERY Bandits stole Rs250,000 from a rice trader here on Thursday night. Reports reaching here said that three armed men had intercepted Nasir Malik and snatched the money from him on gunpoint.