GUJRAT: Scores of contract employees of the University of Gujrat (UoG) demonstrated on Tuesday at the district government complex for being sacked by the varsity administration.

Protesters first staged a sit-out at Kutchery Chowk throwing the traffic out of gear for a half hour and then they marched on the DCO office flashing banners and placards inscribed with their demands. They later dispersed peacefully.

UoG spokesman Prof Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said the varsity administration would regularise the services of most of the contract employees on a priority basis but those who did not meet the set criteria could not be given a regular job status.

He said the vice chancellor could not appoint any contract employee as per the government policy.

ENCOUNTER: Police said they had killed a hardened criminal during an encounter with a group of gunmen near Domelan Chowk in the Jalalpur Jattan city police jurisdiction on Tuesday.

According to a press release by the Gujrat DPO office, three motorcyclists breached a police picket near the city`s drain. As police chased them, motorcyclists opened firing at the police. Both sides exchanged fire, and after sometime police found a body which was later on identified as Usman, alias Mani Butt, who was wanted in five murder and as many robbery cases with different police stations of Gujrat.

The remaining two motorcyclists escaped the scene.

District police chief Rai Zameerul Haq announced cash and commendation certificates for the police which braved the encounter. Correspondent