'DHO ensured hiring of Class-IV staff on merit'

The MPA from upper Chitral, Sardar Hussain, recently demanded cancellation of the appointments and said the DHO advertised only four posts and hired 29 staff members through the backdoor. However, president of Nazmeen Forum, upper Chitral, Muhammad Pervez Laal, on Sunday defended the DHO and said all the appointments were made on merit and without succumbing to pressure or accepting Sifarish from political personalities, especially belonging to the PTI. He said whenever such appointments were made in government departments, local leaders of the ruling political party of the day tried to accommodate their relatives or supporters. But it was perhaps for the first time that the DHO, Dr Israr Ullah, did not take such Sifarish into consideration and filled the posts purely on merit. He said instead of appreciating the official, vested interest people were raising unnecessary objections and calling for the cancellation of the posts. He said if the appointments are cancelled, it would only deprive the poor but deserving people of their right to employment and the posts would be grabbed by those backed by politicians on Sifarish. Mr Pervez, who is the naib nazim of union council Booni II, said it was the responsibility of everyone to encourage fair play and promotion of merit so that everyone can get their right irrespective of their affiliation with any political party. ]]>