.:: SAMAA - Exam answer sheets fuel tandoor

By Zahoor Baloch

QUETTA: Student answer sheets for an Islamic studies exam in June were found being used as fuel for a bread-making tandoor Friday.

Eleven kilograms of the sheets were bought by the owner of the tandoor from a child at a rate of Rs 20 per kg on Jan Mohammad Road.

The Balochistan exam board’s FA Islamic Studies exam was held on May 9. The authorities have verified the sheets and also found the signatures of students on them.

Balochistan Education Minister Shafiq Ahmed said that the matter will be investigated. "It is a tragedy," he said.

A senior official of the Balochistan board said that the roll numbers on the sheets would be used find out which teachers were responsible for checking them.

SAMAA's independent investigations revealed that one of the professors, whose job it was to check the papers, handed them to a peon. Examiners check papers at home and then submit the answer sheets to the central office.

In Pakistani tradition it is considered highly disrespectful to throw away material with Quranic verses. In some cases, it is tantamount to breaking the laws that govern blasphemy.

The Controller of the Balochistan Board, Naimatullah Kakar, told SAMAA these sheets were handed over to a professor on May 30, however, he disposed of them after the marking process. The professor has been identified and summoned, he said.

The controller said the initial report over the issue has been prepared and sent to the higher authorities, while efforts are underway to gather the remaining answer sheets. He also said that the board would try to compensate the affected students in the best way possible.

The professor who checked the papers, Kaleemullah Zahid, said he had handed over the papers to a peon of the Quetta Science College on the directions of the Head Examiner Professor Mandokhel. He also said the whole affair appears to be a conspiracy.

The incident is becoming increasingly controversial as more details are about it are unraveling and numerous allegations and counter allegations are expected to surface. SAMAA