Candidates from Karachi this year out numbered those from rest of the country in both SSC and HSSC examinations, an official of the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) stated on Wednesday. A `Passing the Torch students award ceremony’ was organized at the AKU-EB office. This award ceremony is a continuation of an annual tradition celebrated by AKU-EB to recognise its top three Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) performers. As part of the tradition, 2011 position holders presented awards to this year’s position holders symbolising the continuation of the journey of knowledge and achievements from one year to the next. This year candidates from Karachi out performed those from the rest of the country in both SSC and HSSC exams, the only exception being the third HSSC position which was secured by Adil Shah of Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Gahkuch, Gilgit-Baltistan with 90.18 per cent. Anum Zehra Raza of Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karimabad, Karachi, with 91 per cent marks was awarded the first position in HSSC while Hafsa Javed of Habib Public High School (Girls), Karachi with 90.82 per cent marks secured second position. In the SSC examinations Syed Wahaj Ahmed of Shahwilayat Public School, Karachi with 90.27 per cent marks secured first position, Sadaf Batool Rizvi of Al-Murtaza School, Karachi stood second with 90.18 per cent marks, while two students, Sheharyar Farooq of Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan School and Zahra Hussaini of Habib Girls School, both from Karachi, were awarded a joint third position with 90.09 per cent marks. Parents of the top performers and their school principals also attended the ceremony.