Exams controller transferred, body to probe board’s affairs

Karachi
Taking serious notice of the allegations and counter allegations of corruption and misuse of authority within the top officials of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK), the Sindh government late on Wednesday night transferred examinations controller Imran Chishti to Mirpurkhas while 21 other officials serving in various educational boards were also sent back to their parent departments.
Moreover, the government also set up a two-member committee to probe the allegations of corruption and malpractices in BIEK’s affairs.
The anti-climax unfolded after a press conference of the BIEK examination controller Imran Chishti who countered the allegations of corruption made by board chairman a day earlier in front of newsmen at his office.
At a press conference of his own on Tuesday, BIEK chairman Akhtar Ghauri had accused the preceding board administration of selling off the top three positions and also receiving Rs240 million per year from the education mafia. He had claimed that the protest against him at the BIEK office was being staged by officials in cahoots with the education mafia.
In return, Chishti had also called a press conference on Wednesday morning and accused the BIEK chairman of putting undue pressure on the board staff for altering the results of 30 students.
Following the tit-for-tat allegations between the top two BIEK officials, secretary to the Sindh chief minister on boards and universities Iqbal Durrani entered the fray and silenced both parties with his swift move of transferring Imran Chishti to Mirpurkhas along with 21 other officials of educational boards. The officials included BIEK secretary Qazi Arshad and assistant controller Qamar Iqbal who were sent back to the education department.
The contract of BIEK assistant secretary Raees Ahmed was terminated while another board official was demoted to BPS-7 from BPS-11.
Moreover, Durrani also ordered an inquiry of all BIEK affairs by a two-member committee headed by the chairman of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Hyderabad, Dr Muhammad Memon. The committee will probe all allegations of corruption and embezzlement at the BIEK and will submit its report to him within the next three days.
The BIEK controller of examinations Imran Chishti while rejecting the allegations levelled by chairman Akhtar Ghauri had claimed that the newly-appointed chairman Akhtar Ghauri had put pressure on the lower board staff to alter the results of failed candidates. Chishti said Ghauri continued to put undue pressure on him and other staffers for committing more illegal acts.
“If positions were being sold by the past administration, then how did the sons of a carpenter and a tailor master manage to secure positions in the intermediate examinations,” Chishti had questioned. “The chairman was prompted into making these allegations due to the refusal of BEIK staff for performing illegal acts on his behest.”
Chishti had charged on with his counter allegations at Ghauri, who used to be the adviser to Sindh governor on education. The examination controller commented that the BIEK chairman still considered himself to be an official of the governor’s office and had no experience of dealing with public and running the affairs of an educational board.
“In my absence, Ghauri directed the lower staff to change the results of 30 candidates through scrutiny and when they refused, he somehow managed to get seven mark sheets issued which didn’t have any signatures,” he claimed.
At his press conferment Chishti had been flanked by deputy examination controller Muhammad Dabeer, assistant controller Athar Saeed and superintendent Aslam Chohan who also seconded his claim that Ghauri had put pressure on them to change the results of failed candidates.
On the occasion, the officials also showed to the media some video clips taken from spy cameras in which BIEK Chairman Akhtar Ghauri was allegedly heard directing the staff to change the results.
Chishti said he was compelled to hold a press conference and was aware of the subsequent consequences. However, he said, Akhtar Ghauri had left him no choice but to counter the allegations levelled against him and clarify his and other staffers’ position.

Chairman seeks law-enforcers’ help
On the other hand, the BIEK chairman Akhtar Ghauri on Wednesday had sought the assistance of police, Rangers and the city administration in maintaining law and order situation at the board office saying that the employees were staging protests and they could threaten students who visit the premises every day.
In a letter written to deputy commissioner of district Central, SSP Central and with copies also forwarded to Rangers, Commissioner Karachi, Governor, Chief Minister and other higher officials, he claimed some employees of the BIEK had suspended regular activities at the board office by resorting to illegal protests and their hooliganism could lead to disruption of law and order at an office of public dealing.