Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) officials were found involved in misappropriating admission fees by tempering the forms and bank receipts deposited by the students at the time of admission for Spring 2011. Reliable sources at the AIOU admission section, on the condition of anonymity, told this scribe that in the admissions of Spring 2011 session, AIOU invited students to enrolment and received more than 5,000 admission forms in different courses of Matric, FA, FSc, BA, BEd, MA, MSc, MPhil, and PhD, but around 160 admission forms were found attached with original bank receipts during their scrutiny.
According to an official, every year AIOU offers admissions to students in a number of courses with the stipulated fee structure. “This year when students deposited their fees, tempering of admission section officials came to surface, he added. It is not the first time that AIOU officials have been found involved in embezzlement, but it is the first time that they have been caught,” he said, adding though no accused had been traced, however, an inquiry committee formed by the VC would succeed in tracing the culprits.
The official further said as soon the misappropriation was brought into the knowledge of VC Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi, he deputed some officials to monitor the malpractice, who found those tempered admission forms. On receiving a report about the alleged involvement of the officials of the admission section, the VC immediately constituted a four-member inquiry committee. The students who deposited the fixed fee for their courses were also surprised when they received a letter from the admission section branch, asking them to deposit their full fee.
Several students, according to the VC office officials, submitted applications demanding a thorough probe into the issue. “We have consulted the admission section to know about the fee structure, and we have original bank receipts, so question of depositing the fee twice does not arise,” students wrote to the VC, requesting him to take stern action against those involved in this corrupt practice. AIOU VC Prof Dr Nazir Sangi, talking to Pakistan Today, confirmed that he had received applications from a number of students.
“This has happened for the first time in AIOU’s history. The committee will present its report within a few days and those found involved in the misappropriation would be dealt with iron hands,” the VC said.