Corruption in exams: NAB given two weeks to file reference against former SPSC chief, others

Court was approached for pre-arrest bail in connection with NAB's inquiry relating to nepotism in 2003-04 exams

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) allowed on Thursday 15 days to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a graft reference against the Sindh Public Service Commission's (SPSC) former chairperson and other officials regarding alleged corruption in examinations.

A two-judge bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, directed the NAB's special prosecutor to update the court in this regard by the next hearing.

The bench was hearing bail petitions filed by former SPSC chief Muhammad Hassan Bhutto, official Ayan Mustafa Bhutto and others.



They had approached the court seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with NAB's inquiry relating to alleged nepotism and corruption in the exams held in 2003-04.

NAB had alleged that the accused persons had passed candidates by increasing their marks in exchange for money. Some candidates who had failed the exam were also declared passed, it added.

The bureau further alleged that the then SPSC chairperson got his son favoured in the exam, thus he had passed the exam through illegal means.



During Thursday's proceedings, the NAB prosecutor said that that the accused persons had trampled with merit by declaring 77 candidates as successful in the interviews. He said that inquiry against the accused persons, including the students, had been completed.

The prosecutor said that the NAB chairperson had approved a summary to file a reference against the accused persons, adding that the reference will be filed within 15 days. He sought time to enable them do so.

Granting request, the SHC bench allowed 15 days to the NAB authorities to file the reference and submit a progress report in this regard.