FIA books key officials of Dow university over MDCAT paper leak scandal

KARACHI: In a recent development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)  booked two top Dow University of Health Sciences officials over a paper leak for the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT).

The officials were charged with exploiting the examination process for hefty financial gain and undermining the test’s integrity and credibility.

The MDCAT paper leak controversy started on September 22, when over 38,000 candidates were to API the test in five cities of Sindh. Only a few hours after the exam, the Young Doctors Association claimed the paper was leaked before the start of the exam and demanded an investigation.

Earlier on October 26, the Sindh High Court ordered that the MDCAT be conducted within four weeks, following a probe committee’s finding that the entire test procedure had been compromised. The MDCAT retake was on December 8; it was marred by mismanagement and caused hardship and mental agony for over 38,000 students.

A first information report has been registered against the DUHS examination controller, deputy controller, and 13 other nominated suspects. The FIR alleged that the suspects had been engaged in buying or selling abusive test material on social media, breach of confidentiality at the preparation stage of the examination, along unauthorized access to examination contents.

The investigation turned up glaring financial advantages to the accused parties that allegedly resulted in the leaking of the MDCAT papers, hence affecting the fairness and credibility of the medical entrance test and further inflicting serious damage on the trust in the examination system. Forensic reports for certain accused persons are still pending.

The FIA has launched an inquiry into the paper leak, both statements of the suspects were recorded and their mobile phones were confiscated. The investigation is ongoing, and further action is expected on the part of the FIA against the accused individuals.