PTI MNA embraces controversy Clears two papers in one hour

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly Murad Saeed, who never tires of giving lessons of honesty and merit in television talks shows, dishonestly managed to arrange for himself examination papers of two subjects in BS programme at the Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar.
The papers had been arranged so secretly that the relevant authorities, including the director admissions, controller examination and above all the vice-chancellor of the university, remained unaware of it, reliable sources said.
Murad Saeed was a student of the BS four-year programme at the Department of Environmental Sciences (session 2005-2009). The programme consisted of eight semesters, each one of six months, and according to the university rules a maximum four-semester extension could be given to a student to complete it.
Therefore, he was supposed to complete his courses by 2011 and no further extension could be given to him, director admissions of the university, Prof Dr Hizbullah told The News.
Murad Saeed has also submitted an affidavit with the Election Commission of Pakistan, claiming to have completed his courses and waiting for his degree. This is not true as he had failed to qualify two papers and thus his courses were incomplete.
The affidavit dated March 30, 2013 reads: “I have completed B.Sc (Hons) Environmental Sciences from University of Peshawar but waiting for my degree. I can submit it to the Election Commission at any time when received. All the contents are true and correct to best of my knowledge and behalf.”
According to sources, he had actually failed one paper and did not appear in another, while the record of the third paper is missing. The papers are introduction to environmental sciences, ecology and remote sensing.
The two papers were arranged for him on March 2 and it took him only one hour to do the papers though at least 2 hours are given to attempt one paper. There were reports that he gave empty papers, which were checked within an hour and he was awarded at least 60 marks in each paper.
According to Prof Hizbullah, it was not a normal case and for such cases prior permission of the vice-chancellor, controller examination and director admissions were required. But none of them were informed before arranging the examination, he said.
Dr Hizbullah teaches at the Department of Environmental Sciences and is member of the committee responsible for academic programmes, but the matter was kept secret from him.
He said the vice-chancellor had formed a high-powered committee to look into the matter. He said the committee would inquire as to how Murad Saeed had been allowed to appear in the papers four years after he had exhausted all his chances.
He said that according to the university records, Murad Saeed had not completed his course and degree had not been issued to him. He was confident that the committee would prove him guilty and his courses would be declared null and void.
The university spokesman told The News that he (Murad Saeed) was short of credit hours and records of his three papers was not available. He said that he required a total of 131 credit hours, but he was short by nine credit hours.
Also, record of his three papers was missing, of which one paper - ecology - was found with his teacher Dr Sardar Khan, in which he had obtained 60 marks. The remaining two papers were arranged for him. But they have not yet been checked and marked, the university spokesman claimed.
He said that Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Rasul Jan had taken prompt action and formed a committee under Prof Dr Gulzar to look into the matter and fix responsibility.
There were reports that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had made special intervention into the matter and had asked the vice-chancellor to arrange the papers for Murad Saeed. The vice-chancellor, however, showed his unawareness about the issue. He told a group of protesters that the actual situation would become clear and action would be taken against those found responsible.
Chairperson of the department, Dr Shahida Zakir could not be reached on her available contact numbers. She was, however, quoted to have said that the papers had been arranged on the direct orders of the vice-chancellor. Meanwhile, the activists of Pakhtun Students Federation staged a demonstration in the campus, demanding strict action against the PTI MNA Murad Saeed. They dispersed afet receiving assurances from the vice-chancellor.The MNA did not respond to this correspondent despite several attempts to reach him by phone. He also did not reply to the messages sent on his mobile phone.