A controversy has emerged at the University of Karachi over the alleged irregular passing of around 150 law students who had initially failed their examinations, with questions being raised about the scrutiny process used to revise their results.
According to sources, NED University Vice Chancellor Dr Tufail Jokhio, who was serving as the acting vice chancellor of the University of Karachi at the time, approved a proposal to pass failed students through scrutiny. The move reportedly came after former permanent Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi had rejected an earlier summary seeking scrutiny of the students’ results.
Sources said the university’s examinations department obtained a written recommendation from the Dean of the Faculty of Law and approval from the acting vice chancellor before changing the results of around 150 students from SM Law College and Islamia Law College.
The students had reportedly been shown as failed in their original examination results, with some failing in at least two subjects. Sources alleged that a scrutiny committee was subsequently formed and that a number of students were declared successful after their examination scripts were reassessed.
Questions Over University Scrutiny Rules
Former Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi said students had submitted a collective application, whereas university rules require individual applications for scrutiny.
He explained that under the annual examination system, scrutiny is limited to recounting marks and does not allow rechecking of examination papers. He therefore stopped the earlier request for scrutiny.
The controversy has now created a challenge for newly appointed Vice Chancellor Dr Waseem Qazi, particularly because minutes of the alleged scrutiny committee meeting and approval documents reportedly exist.
Sources have also warned that additional similar cases could emerge if the current examinations administration remains in place.
Failed Students Allegedly Awarded Passing Marks
According to sources, a significant number of LLB students had failed subjects including Obligations and Pakistan Studies, with some reportedly receiving zero or very low marks in their original results.
Following the alleged scrutiny process, some of these students were reportedly awarded marks ranging between 50 and 65, resulting in them being declared successful.
Sources further claimed that the University of Karachi’s examinations department issued mark sheets showing some students as failed in the original results and passed after the subsequent scrutiny.
Scrutiny Committee Under Question
Sources said a scrutiny committee comprising Dean of Law Barrister Sarfraz Mithlo, representatives of the two law colleges and the Controller of Examinations was formed.
The committee reportedly held a meeting on August 5, chaired by the Dean of Law, and decided to reassess answer scripts for LLB Part-II Paper 5.
However, questions have been raised over whether university regulations permit the reassessment or rechecking of examination scripts under the scrutiny procedure.
According to the sources, on August 6, the Controller of Examinations obtained approval for the committee’s recommendations from acting Vice Chancellor Dr Tufail Ahmed. The approval reportedly included the phrase “other related cases,” after which students who had failed Pakistan Studies were also allegedly declared successful.
Following the approval, the principal of SM Law College reportedly instructed students on August 6 to apply for scrutiny.
SM Law College Principal Defends Decision
SM Law College Principal Professor Fareed Dayo reportedly said around 180 students had been failed by a teacher at Islamia College and that the cases were taken before the scrutiny committee because the students had allegedly been treated unfairly.
The principal maintained that the students were passed after their cases were reviewed by the committee.
Questions Also Raised Over Dean’s Appointment
The report also raises questions about the appointment of Dean of Law Barrister Sarfraz Mithlo.
According to the report, former Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi had submitted a panel of candidates for the position that did not include Mithlo. The report alleges that the provincial Boards and Universities Department rejected the panel submitted by the vice chancellor and subsequently issued a notification appointing Mithlo.
The report further claims that questions had also been raised over Mithlo’s eligibility for the position.
The allegations surrounding the examination results and the scrutiny process have yet to be conclusively established through an independent investigation. A formal response from the University of Karachi and the officials named in the allegations would be important in determining whether examination rules and university procedures were violated.