BAHAWALPUR: A number of employees of Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) have lodged a protest against verification of their academic credentials.

Reports said 35 candidates were appointed to the lower grade cadre through `sham` recruitment process during the last two or three years.

Recently, it was pointed out that some of them possessed fake educational degrees and certificates.

Resultantly, the administration decided to scrutinise their degrees.

The move irked the employees who took to the street on Friday in protest against the scrutiny of their degrees.

They also demonstrated in front of the residence of Punjab Minister for Cooperatives Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in Bindra locality of Multan Road.

During chanting of slogans, the demonstrators alleged that they had paid heavy amounts for their appointment and now some of the BVH officials were demanding more money from them.

When contacted, Medical Superintendent Dr Rao Javed Iqbal told the media that besides the complaints of bogus degrees, some of them had managed to secure forged appointment letters, allegedly issued with the involvement of some of the BVH of ficials.

He said a committee comprising Dr.Aisha and Dr. Aslam Malik had started an inquiry into these appointments and `the probe is expected to be completed within two weeks.

The medical superintendent said action would be taken in the light of the committee report.

RTA SECRETARY: Forests Conservator Faisal Farooq has exonerated Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Tanveer Ahmed Jhandhir from illegal hunting in Liaquatpur.

The conservator was appointed as an inquiry of ficer in the case by the Punjab government.

Jhandhir along with his relatives had gone hunting on a private vehicle in Liaquatpur on Dec 13, 2015. A raid was conducted by a team of the Rahim Yar Khan Wildlife Department, who also imposed a fine on him.

Jhandhir moved a complaint against the raiding of ficials with the Punjab wildlife secretary. The secretary appointed the forests conservator as inquiry officer and asked him to submit a report.

Conservator Farooq told Dawn that on the basis of circumstantial evidence he absolved the complainant of the charges.