By Riaz Narijo
DADU: Allegations of financial irregularities amounting to Rs90 million in the Dadu Municipal Committee have triggered a day-long protest by municipal employees, who are demanding a transparent inquiry into what they describe as years of mismanagement and illegal deductions.
According to workers and union representatives, the municipal administration is accused of misappropriation under several heads, including difference bills and leave preparatory retirement (LPR) increments of retired employees. They also allege that illegal deductions of around Rs2 million each month are being made from the salaries of regular staff.
Acting on a call by the Municipal Employees Union, workers wore black armbands and staged a sit-in outside the Dadu Municipal Committee office throughout Tuesday. The protest was led by union leader Murtaza Bhund, along with other representatives.
The protesters said that despite a Sindh government notification on the implementation of revised pay scales, municipal employees in Dadu had not been paid the additional amounts, which they estimate at nearly Rs10 million per month. They further alleged that around Rs80 million, including December increments and payments meant for about 50 retired employees, had been embezzled.
Workers accused the municipal chairman, the chief municipal officer (CMO) and the accounts officer of involvement, claiming that the alleged corruption had continued for the past five years.
They appealed to the provincial minister for local government to take immediate notice of the issue, order an independent and transparent investigation, and resolve the long-standing financial grievances of employees.
Union representatives warned that the protest would continue until their demands were met.
When contacted, Chief Municipal Officer Rahpotto rejected the allegations, saying that the issues raised by the employees had already been resolved.
