A question paper of English for BA examination of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) was leaked and available in the market prior to the exam date at the price of 10 to 25 thousand rupees, Pakistan Today has learnt through reliable sources on Sunday.
According to details, the examination centre for BA examination was established at Government Islamia College Cantt, Lahore, Inamullah Bhatti and Khalid Mehmood were appointed superintendent and deputy superintendent respectively to conduct the examination. The said officials successfully managed to withdraw a copy of question paper with the alleged support of some staff members of National Bank, Sadar Branch, one day before the examination date and made it available in the market at exorbitant price.
When the vigilant inspector came to know about this incident, he approached the superintendent and asked him to produce the sealed bundle of question papers. The superintendent was unable to do so as he himself had breached the official seal for his vested interests. The vigilant inspector gave reported the incident to Controller Examination Rana Sohail Nazeer who ordered to confiscate the bundle of question papers.
The whole saga took an ugly turn when the superintendent reportedly scuffled with the vigilant inspector, manhandled him and snatched the bundle from him. The superintendent distributed the question papers among the candidates despite the strict orders from the controller examination. A sheer state of pandemonium was witnessed and the vice principal of that college also came on the spot who was the resident inspector of that examination centre.
The situation went out of control and the vice principal called the concerned police. The police officials confiscated all the material from the superintendent and a case was registered with Cantt Police Station. Subsequently, the university has deputed new staff to conduct the examination smoothly.
When approached, Vice Chancellor of AIOU Dr Shahid Siddiqui told Pakistan Today that the superintendent and deputy superintendent had been suspended. He further added that an inquiry committee had been constituted to probe the whole incident and strict action would be taken against the accused. He was of the view that the committee would submit its recommendations in two weeks and registrar of the university had been tasked to personally look into the matter vigilantly.
According to sources, Regional Director Lahore Rasool Bakhsh Behram is responsible for this entire episode as he has been involved in the financial malpractices since past some time and it was his responsibility to depute the staff in Lahore region. It is pertinent to mention here that Behram has deputed male staff members in some female examination centre which is illegal and unlawful.