BISE Secretary Manhandles Junior For 'Answering Cell Phone'

Lahore, The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) secretary recently beat up one of his juniors and threatened him with termination from service in case he made the matter public, sources said.


The sources said the BISE Employees' Union was, surprisingly, supporting the secretary in the row. But another group of employees is backing the junior employee – Naib Qasid Muhammad Naveed – and said he was "targeted because of his active participation in recent protests against the BISE chairman and secretary for not attending office".

'Personal matter': The secretary, Mushtaq Ahmed Tahir, has conceded that he beat up a junior employee. While he said the "personal matter" had been "settled", the group supporting Naveed rejected the claim, and said "tensions are still high at work".

Education Minster Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman said that an investigation would be launched to determine if the secretary was guilty, and action would be taken in line with the law. The sources said Naveed was beaten up "on Friday for attending a call on his cell phone while he was in the secretary's office". They said Naveed was in the secretary's office for official work when a family member called him. "Naveed only attended the call to tell the person at the other end that he was in the secretary's office and couldn't talk ... but Naveed's brief interlude irked the secretary," said the sources, adding that Tahir initially slapped Naveed and then started beating him up. "Nobody stepped forward to rescue Naveed, who had started crying." They said the naib qasid was "injured", and had to be taken to Ganga Ram Hospital. Tahir later warned Naveed that he would be terminated from service "in case you make the matter public".

According to some BISE officials, "Tahir has close links with high-ups in the Punjab government ... he was just appointed to work as a representative at the board". A number of BISE officials claimed the secretary's chief responsibility was to "organise the Punjab chief minister's essay writing, debates and sports competitions". They said Tahir could be "rarely found in office ... employees and students are suffering as a result". They called on the Punjab government to take notice of the secretary's misbehaviour with Naveed.

The sources said the BISE Employees Welfare Union had also refrained from highlighting the matter because of the secretary's "pressure". However, the president of the union said, "It's not a minor issue." BISE Public Relations Officer Qaiser Virk said that he was unaware if the naib qasid had been manhandled.

Punjab University VC Gets Einstein Award

LAHORE, The International Biographical Centre has awarded the prestigious International Einstein Award for scientific achievement to Punjab University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran in recognition of his contributions to physics.


The International Einstein Award for scientific achievement is designed to acknowledge, thank and reward those individuals who have distinguished themselves within the field of science and added to the wealth of human learning and the subsequent advancement of society.

The award is a full colour certificate of merit, laminated onto a fine wooden base, measuring 11.5” x 16.5”, which features portrait of the legendary genius physicist Einstein in the background and is dated and signed by the director-general and the editor-in-chief of the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.

The name of Dr Kamran has also been inscribed in the IBC annals as an iconic achiever and recipient of the Einstein Award for scientific achievement.

56,000 NIP Interns Receive Placement Letters

Islamabad, As many as 56,000 National Internship Programme (NIP) applicants have received their placement letters all over the country including AJK and Fata.

NIP Director General Muntazir Khan said here Monday that the Programme was designed for the benefit of young unemployed postgraduates and graduates all over the country, who had completed 16 years of education from recognized universities or degree awarding institutions including external candidates.

The scheme is intended to assist financially to fresh graduates and also to keep them engaged and interested in acquiring additional knowledge and real work life experiences, thereby facilitating their employability in the country. The programme will also benefit the government organisations facing shortage of staff in various cadres. He said that unemployed postgraduates and graduates in all fields of studies who have completed 16 years of formal education from HEC recognised universities & degree awarding institutions including external candidates; He said that this is the final batch and the process of the verification has been completed. Region-wise detail of which is as under:

Punjab total 21,966 candidates male female, Sindh total 8,611 candidates male female, NWFP total 12,621 candidates male female, Balochistan 358, AJK total 411, Gilgit Baltistan total 301, Malakand 5,648, Fata 216 and Federal ministries 34,571.

University Of Health Sciences Passes Three Students In Violation Of Rules

Lahore, The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has reassessed answer sheets of three candidates of private medical/dental colleges after declaration of results in sheer violation of varsity's examination rules, orders of the Syndicate and judgment of the Supreme Court.


The UHS Examination Department has conducted reassessment of answer sheets of three candidates i.e. Sabeen Zahid d/o Zahid Hussain (MBBS 2nd Professional Supplementary Examination 2006 from Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore), Hajra Shahid Khan d/o Shahid Yousaf Khan (MBBS 1st Professional Part-I Annual Examination 2006 from Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt), and Ayesha Mansha d/o Muhammad Mansha (BDS 1st Professional, Revised Scheme, Annual Examination 2006 from FMH, College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore) after declaration of results and passed them pass. The varsity by doing so violated examination rules and Supreme Court ruling and also discriminated against candidates who were not given a similar opportunity. It also exposed a nexus of UHS and its affiliated private medical/dental institutions working to manipulate results.

The UHS examination rules clearly state in Section 7 (vi): "The answer books of a candidate in any examination of the University shall not be reassessed after declaration of the result."

Section 7 (i) says: "After declaration of results, a candidate may apply to the Controller of Examinations for rechecking of his/her results." (vii) Whereas rechecking does not mean reassessment or re-evaluation of an answer book, the controller of examinations or any officer authorized by him or the Rechecking Committee approved by the vice-chancellor shall satisfy that the result of the candidate has been correctly compiled and declared."

The UHS Syndicate, in its 13th meeting, unanimously decided that before decoding, an 'audit' committee approved by the VC and convened by controller of examinations may audit the result and involve a convener of assessment, if deemed necessary, out of the panel of senior professors recommended by Board of Studies. The duties of convener of assessment will not be in contradiction to examination regulations.

Earlier, in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and in conformity with the policy of PMDC and HEC, the syndicate in its 12th meeting and Board of Governors in its 10th meeting decided to abolish the system of grace marks or an increase in marks by any other name with effect from Annual Examination 2006.

Sources said that the UHS also adopted a system of 'rechecking' or 'audit' of answer sheets, failing by not more than three marks from benchmark to pass the subject, before the declaration of results to rule out any discrepancies in the compilation of results leaving no room, whatsoever, for any error or mistake in compilation/counting of results/marks. However, after declaration of results, a candidate may apply for rechecking or audit to remove his/her doubts regarding compilation of results but certainly not for reassessment of the answer sheet.

The sources pointed out another anomaly that these candidates had not moved their applications for rechecking within 10 days as Section 7 (iv) says: "Applications for rechecking shall be received in the office of the controller of examinations not later than 10 days after the date of declaration of the result of the examination." The rechecking of one candidate's answer sheets was directly recommended by the vice-chancellor.

As for individual cases, Sabeen Zahid d/o Zahid Hussain in MBBS 2nd Professional Supplementary Examination 2006 from Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Roll No 431, Fictitious No 1558 and Rechecking File No 1865, was awarded three extra numbers - one each in questions 8, 9 and 15 in the subject of General Pathology during reassessment after declaration of the result.

In order of events, the Rechecking Committee after Sabeen Zahid's application for rechecking, declared that the candidate had failed after thorough rechecking the answer sheet. Later, the UHS called Dr Fauzia Iqbal Butt, Professor of Pathology, AIMC, Lahore, as Convener of Assessment for an audit of answer sheet bearing Fictitious No 1558, but she also declared in writing that "no question or part of question was found unmarked. The standard of assessment of paper is satisfactory and the marks given are correct. The total of marks is also correct."

Afterwards, the UHS appointed Dr Abdul Hannan Nagi, Professor of Pathology at LMDC, Lahore, as convener of assessment but he again gave an all-clear report.

After failing in their attempts, the UHS thrashed out all candidates failing by just three marks in the subject of General Pathology in an attempt to clear the 'deserving candidate' bearing Fictitious No 1558 and appointed Dr Maleeha Aslam, Professor of Pathology at AIMC, Lahore, as convener of assessment. However, she also endorsed the results of the 21 candidates including the candidate with Fictitious No 1558. So much so that she gave in writing that marking was towards the lenient side.

However, out of the 21 candidates, the candidate with Fictitious No 1558 was lucky that the UHS Examination Department desperately took up the case again and once again appointed Dr AH Nagi, Professor of Pathology at LMDC, Lahore, as convener of assessment, who finally awarded three marks - one each in Qs 8, 9 & 15 - on the basis that 'some parts of these questions were left unmarked'. Dr AH Nagi is presently Professor of Pathology at UHS, while another professor of LMDC was appointed as a member of Board of Governors of UHS a few months ago.

Following this development, the Head of Rechecking Committee objected to the change in marks of questions 8, 9 and 15, saying it amounted to reassessment/re-evaluation which was against rules and regulations.

However, the controller of examinations, on the instructions of the vice-chancellor, asked the professor concerned to clarify the discrepancy between the statements in the script and the audit reports. The professor concerned apologised for his earlier audit report and presented the 'solution' that some portions of questions 8, 9 and 15 were left unmarked in the second audit report and awarded three marks, which was accepted by the controller of examinations and approved by the vice-chancellor.

However, the assistant controller of examinations (secrecy) wrote a letter, dated June 26, 2007, to LMDC Principal with reference to rechecking application of Sabeen Zahid, Roll No. 431, of MBBS 2nd Professional Supplementary Examination 2006, conveying that Rechecking Committee checked the answer books/records/practical awards and no discrepancies were found.

Despite this communication by the assistant controller of examinations (secrecy), the UHS Examination Department issued a notification dated August 7, 2007, declaring that the candidate Roll No 431 had passed.

In case of Hajra Shahid Khan d/o Shahid Yousaf Khan in MBBS 1st Professional (Part-I) Annual Examination 2006, bearing Roll No 129, Fictitious No 7124 and Rechecking File No 1554 from Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt, the UHS Examination Department also awarded 1.5 marks in questions 1 and 2 in the subject of Anatomy to enhance the existing 2.5 marks to total of 4 marks in post-result reassessment of answer books.

In yet another case of Ayesha Mansha d/o Muhammad Mansha in BDS 1st Professional (Revised Scheme), Annual Examination 2006, Roll No 69, Fictitious No 808 and Rechecking File No 1452 from FMH, College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, the UHS Examination Department also awarded one extra mark in questions 1 and 2 in Anatomy to increase the existing 2 marks to total of 3 marks in post result reassessment of answer books.

In both these cases, the UHS appointed Dr Mustansir Billah, Professor of Anatomy CMH/Lahore Medical College, Lahore, as the convener of assessment, who prepared separate award lists, instead of amending marks on Paper Assessors' award lists, to increase the required number of marks. However, the controller of examinations rejected the new award lists and himself amended the original award lists.

In original award list of candidate's paper with Fictitious No 7124, prepared by Paper Assessor Dr Muhammad Sohail, FPGMI/Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, the Controller of Examinations added 1.5 marks to existing 2.5 marks in questions 1 and 2 to increase to a total of 4 marks required to pass in the said subject.

In original award list of candidate paper bearing Fictitious No 808, prepared by Paper Assessor Dr Syed Tariq, Professor of Anatomy, Nishtar Medical College, Multan, the controller of examinations added 1 mark to existing 2 marks in questions 1 and 2 to increase to a total of 3 marks required to pass in the said subject.

The UHS, after conducting reassessment, referred the case to Rechecking Committee, which then 'rectified' the mistake in final counting of marks and declared that the candidates had passed the examinations. Later, the UHS Examination Department issued notifications, dated February 27, 2007, declaring that the candidates pass in their respective examinations.

Sources said that both these candidates, MBBS 1st Professional (Part-I) Annual Examination 2006 and BDS 1st Professional (Revised Scheme), Annual Examination 2006, had failed in their last chance to continue their medical education, but the UHS Examination Department misused its authority and arbitrarily passed them to carry on their medical education.

Courts had also rejected pleas of several candidates, particularly failing by just 1 mark in their last chance in First Professional BDS or MBBS (Part-I&II), to award required grace mark(s) to promote to the next level of Second Professional BDS or MBBS in order to continue their medical education.

When contacted, UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Hussain Mubashar Malik and Controller of Examinations Dr Junaid Sarfraz were unavailable for comments.

HEC Launches Second Phase Of English Language Teaching Reforms Initiative

Karachi, After the completion of phase-I of English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR), the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is starting its second phase from April 2010 with an initial target of training 1,400 English Language Teaching (ELT) faculty of colleges and universities across Pakistan.

ELTR is the first language based project which caters to the teaching faculty of colleges along with universities. So far, 1,504 teachers of colleges and universities have been trained under Phase-I of ELTR.

The Phase-II of ELTR aims at bridging the critical gap between faculty of English language and literature and grouping both in the courses of professional development. The Phase-II will be implemented through long-term and short-term programmes.

Universities and colleges will be supported in establishing self-access centres as well as strengthening the existing English departments and research centres. The Phase-II of ELTR will also help upgrade the English language proficiency of faculty of other disciplines in humanities and social sciences. In this regard, 150 long-term indigenous fellowships will be offered to the college and university teachers which range from one to two years and will include MS/MPhil in Applied Linguistics and other related disciplines.

On the other hand, 1,250 short-term CPD trainings ranging from one week to one month courses will also be offered in computer-assisted language learning, testing and evaluation, research methodology and skills.

International resource persons (IRPs) from the internationally recognised universities and academic bodies will also visit Pakistan and engage with the local faculty in one month short-term trainings in specialised ELT/linguistics areas. ELTR will also extend partial support and fund ELT related events such as conferences, seminars and research journals.

SSC Papers Resume After Controversies

Karachi, After a weeklong unrest, candidates appearing in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Science Group, Class IX, Annual Examination 2010, were finally able to give their exams in a peaceful manner on Monday. However, strong allegations of cheating and unfair means were rampant while a media team managed to reveal an impersonator from a centre.

The paper of Computer Science (for regular students of Class IX, and failures of Class X) was held in the second shift throughout the city yesterday. Earlier, students of the General Group appeared in the Pakistan Studies examination in different examination centers.

An impersonator managed to enter into the examination room at the Government Boys Secondary School, Nazimabad, No2, but after a media raid, he ran away from the spot.

As per details, a genuine candidate did not appear in the paper and in his place; an impersonator had arrived at the government school an hour late. The examinations superintend and other teachers allowed the said student to sit in the exams and guided him to the class room. However, a local media disclosed that a fake candidate is appearing rather than an actual candidate. When questioned by the media, the impersonator ranaway from the above mentioned school.

When contacted by The News, the Examination Reporting Cell, Board of Secondary Education, Karachi (BSEK) officials said that they had not received such information from the centre’s superintendent.

Meanwhile, there were reports that external elements had helped the candidates at various examination centers in defunct District Central, in solving the paper of Computer Science. The use of mobile phones, presence of outsiders, use of textbooks, other materials like micro Photostat of the books and handwritten notes was witnessed at various examination centers.

Superintends of the concerned examination centers told The News that they could not stop the external elements at all. “We have no support from the local police. Despite various phone calls and written application to the area police station and the BSEK, the law officials hardly come to visit the centers. This lack of law enforcers is a major reason that gives way to involvement of the external forces and unfair means during exams,” the officials said. According to these superintendents, vigilance teams paid no visit throughout the day at their respective examination centers.

KU Playing Vital Role In Providing Guidance To sStudents

Karachi, The Karachi University (KU) is playing an important role in providing guidance and training to its students so that they can efficiently serve the corporate world with their intelligence and innovative ideas”, said Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui and Minister of Trade and Commerce, Rauf Siddiqui while speaking at the Alumni Corporate Dinner organised by the Department of Public Administration (DPA), KU, on Saturday night.

The dinner is a signature event of this department in which the DPA’s Graduate Directory 2009 is inaugurated which contains the profile of all graduating students of the year.

Siddiqui said that the event presented an opportunity to reunite and to celebrate the achievements and contributions to the global business community by passing students and faculty of the department.

He regarded it an exceptional opportunity to socialise, network and meet other professionals. On this occasion, he announced that the government has decided to name a road in the city after the name of the KU VC

Dr Siddiqui encouraged the efforts made by the department and said that the DPA had efficiently carved a reputable niche in the corporate world, within a deficient period, by serving the public and private sector with capable and quality professionals.

Dean Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Prof. Dr Abuzar Wajidi said that the KU tried to provide recognition to its students because their recognition was the recognition of the university. While declaring the aim of his faculty he said that their goal was to become more than an institution to its treasured students by welding them into competitive managers and inculcating the values of integrity and diligence.

“Maximising the human resource capacity of our country should be the core essentials of a responsible public administrator”, he added. Prof. Dr Khalid Iraqi introduced the Graduate Directory 2009 which provides the graduate profile containing all the information about the passing students of MPA (2009).

He added that the data is provided under the guidance of the patron and the administrative staff of the department. Dr Akhtar Baloch, Chairman, Department of Public Administration; Ghazal Khwaja Humayun, Dr Syed Shabih-ul-Hasan and others were also present on the occasion.