Future of PU student accused of cheating hangs in the balance

–Magistrate issues non-bailable arrest warrants against staff of PU deputy controller examinations, other witnesses

LAHORE: Special Judicial Magistrate Naveed Ashraf Awan of the Model Town courts on Wednesday ordered the Civil Lines Police Station SHO [Station House Officer] to ensure the presence of witnesses in court on May 5, in a case pertaining to a student allegedly leaving the exam hall with his answer sheet. The case pertains to a University of Punjab (PU) student, Shabbir Ahmad, roll no. 2154, who allegedly left the examination hall-H with his answer sheet, in violation of the university’s examination rules and the act is punishable under the Punjab Universities and Boards of Intermediate And Secondary Education Malpractices Act, 1950.

During the hearing, Magistrate Awan pointed out that other witnesses apart from Munawar Hussain were absent from the session. The case cannot move forward until staff members of University of Punjab’s deputy controller examinations and other witnesses attend court. This has brought Ahmad’s educational career to an abrupt pause. The deputy controller, his staff and other witnesses have failed to attend court hearings on several occasions after which the magistrate ordered the SHO concerned to ensure the presence of ‘missing’ witnesses in the next hearing.

Ahmad, the accused, pleaded not guilty before the magistrate, according to the statement given in the chargesheet.

Pakistan Today made repeated attempts to contact the Deputy Controller Examinations office for comment on the issue but they remained unavailable.