KARACHI :The counter terrorism department (CTD) of Sindh Police traced the active role of workers of a Sindh based political party and student wing of another political party in cheating scandal of Karachi’s Intermediate Examination.
In an official report (copy available with The News) sent to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah who on May 6, by taking cognizance of cheating through WhatsApp groups and other malpractices in Intermediate Examination of Karachi region, had ordered CTD to probe in the matter and arrest the culprits.
Official report revealed that majority staff of the Board was appointed on political basis and belong to the Sindh based political party, however student wing of another political party also wields influence on the operating procedure of the examination of the Board and involve in all kind of cheating and malpractices since 1992.
A Senior officer of CTD on condition of anonymity confided ‘The News’ that the said cheating scam is of over Rs2 billion and illegal money trail had links with some influential leaders.
The CTD report further disclosed that there were some five kinds of cheating and malpractices in Intermediate examination paper leaks, change of students, change or exchange of centres of students on their own choice, enhancing of marks after examination and organised large scale cheating.
Earlier CTD arrested seven people, including four board workers and three agents, for their alleged involvement in leaking examination papers but then released board officials on personal surety after recording of their statements.
Official report also indicated the examination centers where the papers were captured on phone cameras and circulated on WhatsApp groups and also pointed 13 superintendents and officers of some centers who facilitated the illegal cheating process.
The report mentioned the name of Feroze Siddiqi, a leader of a group of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, allegedly pressurising Board management for the appointment of 13 professors as in-charges of centers where they allegedly helped out their favourite candidates. However Feroze Siddiqi rejected all allegations and told The News that he never influenced Board management but Board management always requested for the cooperation and the Association recommended some names on their request only.
Besides, the report had also mentioned about a centre where the examination would start 15 minutes ahead of scheduled time, which is in violation of the relevant rules and regulations.
CTD informed Sindh CM that inquiry still remained inclusive as the Chairman of Intermediate Board and other senior officers have yet to provide answers of different quarries.
This reporter contacted with SSP CTD Naveed Khuwaja in-charge of investigation of cheating scandal but he refused to share his views as according to him investigation was underway; however he said that CTD got some important leads and within couple of days the matter would be concluded and all culprits would be arrested.
Chairman Intermediate Board professor Inam Ahmed told The News that Board management cooperated with the CTD team and would provide all required material and information to them which needed. Professor Inam said that Board management was trying its best to overcome cheating and other malpractices in examination to save the future of young generations.
