KARACHI, Dec 20: The final merit list of students seeking admission to the Dow Medical College and the Sindh Medical College will be displayed on Dec 24.

This was disclosed by A.R. Nasir, head of the committee formed by the Sindh government to re-examine all the answer scripts of the entrance test given by the Institution of Business Administration following allegations of irregularities in some 35 cases, while talking to Dawn informally on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Medical and Dental College extended the last date for payment of admission fees of the first year of MBBS and BDS classes from Dec 22 to Dec 30, says a press release issued by the city government on Thursday.

The press release adds that the decision was taken on the directive of City Nazim Naimatullah Khan.

Mr Nasir said that the committee, which had been formed by a high-level meeting summoned by Acting Sindh Governor Saiyed Saeed Ashhad following protests by students and their parents over the Sindh health department’s decision of cancelling the results of second IBA entrance test, had finalized its report.

He added that those students who were found guilty of trying to tamper with their answer scripts would be disqualified from seeking to admission colleges for three years.

He said that in all 35 cases of irregularities had been detected — 24 cases in Karachi, 11 in Hyderabad and none in Larkana.

Mr Nasir observed that the immature attitude of the health department had not only blown the irregularities issue out of all proportion but had also brought the IBA and the Sindh government into disrepute.

“Even if a third entrance test had been conducted, what guarantee is there that a candidate would not have indulged in underhand dealings?” he wondered. He argued that even if the army had been deployed at the examination centres there would have been room for wheeling and dealing because invigilation was only one-third of the entire exercise.

Mr Nasir said a deputy superintendent of police had been entrusted with the task of interrogation of the accused.

However, a senior official of the health department refused to confirm the date for the announcement of the final merit list. He added that the process for admission to first year MBBS and BDS classes at the five government-run medical institutions in the province was likely to be finalized by the end of December, following which teaching would commence in the first week of January.

A senior official at the provincial health department said that the department was yet to finalize a schedule for the display of the final merit list and date for submission of fee.

“Despite the fact that the re-scrutiny and verification of the answer scripts have almost been finished by a special committee, there are lots of works to be done by the principals of medical colleges at the three admission centres in the province.”

Sources privy to the admission process said that the updating of the merit list for admissions in the light of the fact-finding committee in the case of Karachi medical colleges was initiated on Thursday, but the principals of other two centres were due in the city on Friday for further information and line of action.

It was learnt that in addition to detection of 35 fraud cases, a second assessment was also carried out in some cases. After being informed by the quarters concerned that some solutions given by the IBA against entrance test questions had been incorrect and many students had contested the solutions, the special committee had started the scrutiny afresh.

The sources said that the fresh scrutiny would change at least 50 slots in the merit list which would make room for other candidates. However, the IBA director, Javed Ashraf, said he was unaware of any development.