Mega corruption scandal hits Sindh's education system

Probe reveals Rs200m routed to Universities and Boards Dept for result tampering

KARACHI:

The Anti-Corruption Department has issued notices to officials of the Universities and Boards Department and various educational boards following an alleged Rs200 million corruption scandal, which emerged after startling disclosures made during the interrogation of a Mirpurkhas Board official.

The revelations following the arrest of the Controller of Examinations of Mirpurkhas Board by the Anti-Corruption Establishment have significantly widened the scope of the inquiry, now affecting nearly all education boards across Sindh.

Following the investigation, the Anti-Corruption Department has issued notices to serving and former chairmen of several educational boards, examination controllers, and officials of the Universities and Boards Department over allegations of serious financial irregularities.

According to the notices, it is alleged that around Rs200 million was routed to the Universities and Boards Department over a short period in exchange for changes in examination results, manipulation of official records, and favours in transfers and postings.

The inquiry stated that the funds were channelled through Deputy Secretary Farhan Akhtar to the secretary of Boards and Universities. The alleged breakdown included Rs70 million from Karachi Matric and Intermediate Boards, Rs40 million from Sukkur Board, Rs40 million from Hyderabad Board, and Rs50 million from Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah) Board.

Notices have been issued to the secretary and chairman of the Matric Board Karachi, chairman of the Intermediate Board Karachi, Chairman of Sukkur Board Zahid Ali Chunnar, and Chairman of Nawabshah Board Asif Memon. Former Deputy Secretary Farhan Akhtar, the secretary of Nawabshah Board, Section Officer Muhammad Zubair Katbar, and controllers of Sukkur, Larkana, and Hyderabad boards have also been summoned.

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Department had also summoned three former chairmen of Mirpurkhas Board and the personal secretary of a provincial minister.

The notices further revealed that a pre-medical student of Nawabshah Board was issued two different mark sheets, one showing 362 marks out of 500 and another reflecting 497 marks.

Meanwhile, records had already been sought from Secretary Universities and Boards Abbas Baloch. However, it is reported that he did not appear before the inquiry officer, citing his senior grade (BPS-20) status.