Daily Times

KARACHI: Expressing extreme displeasure over the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for dragging its feet to conclude the investigation into alleged forging and tempering of the results in Sindh Public Service Commission exam for the year 2003-04, the Sindh High Court observed that it appears as the investigator has not made appropriate efforts to complete the investigation within stipulated time.

A division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto made this observation while hearing half a dozen identical bail petitions filed by former SPSC chairman, members and other alleged beneficiaries.

At the outset, the NAB investigation officer informed the judges that the investigation was almost complete. The ‘answer copies’ of the candidates were sent to Islamabad for forensic test and after the receipt of the forensic report a reference would be filed, he added.

Former SPSC chairman Muhammad Hassan Bhutto, his son Ayan Mustafa Bhutto, Memona Shah, the daughter of the then SPSC examiner Hussain Shah, SPSC members Syed Ahmed Baqar ,Allah Bux Soomro, Ali Anwar Ruk, Shoib Ahmed Khero, and others had approached the high court seeking pre-arrest bails in connection with the inquiry initiated against them for their alleged involvement in tempering and forging the SPSC exam results to favor their kith and kin.

In its reply, the NAB investigator had submitted that of 2,225, 531 candidates had qualified the Combined Competitive Exam held in Dec 2003. After the viva voce held from April to June 2004 only 77 candidates were declared successful to be appointed at various posts, including deputy district officer revenue, section officers, registrars, labour assistant director, and excise and taxation officer, he added.

In the final results several candidates were illegally favored and some of them had even failed in more than one subject and some had acquired less mark, he said. “Therefore, they were unfit to be recommended for appointment.”

“Marks of 62 deserving candidates were deliberately reduced to the extent of failing so they can be eliminated from the exam process.”

“Some of the SPSC members misused their authority and allowed massive manipulation. They cannot be absolved of their responsibility to ensure transparency in exam and selection process and blame the guilt on others,” the investigator said.

Initially, alleged irregularities committed in the SPSC exam had come to light in 2008 when some aggrieved candidates had gone to the high court seeking inquiry into it. Subsequently, the anti-corruption establishment had registered an FIR (08/2008) against the SPSC chairman and other members for allegedly tempering with the exam results to favor their relatives.

Later, NAB took cognizance of the offence and had initiated an inquiry against those involved.

In his petition, Saleem Shaikh, one of the aggrieved candidates, had submitted that he had qualified both the written and viva voce with the highest marks, yet he was not appointed to any post.

He said that he had run from pillar to post to get what he deserved but all his efforts went in vain. The massive irregularities in the exam had surfaced yet the investigating agencies had failed to take the case to its logical conclusion, he added.