Karachi University faces controversy over changes to failed students’ results

The University of Karachi has reportedly faced a major controversy over changes made to the examination results of nearly 150 law students during the brief tenure of its former acting vice chancellor.

The University of Karachi has reportedly faced a major controversy over changes made to the examination results of nearly 150 law students during the brief tenure of its former acting vice chancellor.

According to reports, students from SM Law College and Islamia Law College who had initially been declared unsuccessful were later shown as having passed after a scrutiny process. The changes reportedly affected students who had failed in subjects including Obligations and Pakistan Studies.

Documents obtained by local media including mark sheets award sheets and records of a scrutiny committee meeting have reportedly raised questions about the process used to alter the results.

The controversy centers on a scrutiny committee comprising the Dean of the Faculty of Law principals of the relevant law colleges and the controller of examinations. The committee reportedly met on August 5 and recommended a fresh review of answer scripts for an LLB Part-II paper.

The process has drawn attention because university examination rules reportedly do not ordinarily provide for rechecking of answer scripts under the annual examination system with scrutiny generally limited to recounting marks.

Former Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi had previously stopped action on a collective student request reportedly arguing that scrutiny applications were required to be submitted individually and that the rules did not permit rechecking of examination papers.

The university’s current examination authorities have denied that failed students were improperly passed. However, the Dean of the Faculty of Law confirmed that results were changed arguing that the procedure was lawful and intended to address alleged unfair treatment of students.

He claimed that a large majority of students had been failed by the same teacher and that only students who were short of a few marks were awarded passing grades after review.

The controversy now presents a challenge for newly appointed Vice Chancellor Dr Waseem Qazi particularly as questions remain over the examination department’s handling of the matter.

Students whose results were revised have reportedly moved forward with their academic plans and are preparing for subsequent examinations.