KARACHI, Dec 8: Papers of the ongoing degree class annual exams scheduled to be held on Dec 10 have been deferred for some other dates as the provincial election commission has decided to engage five of the KU exam centres for the purpose of by-elections.

Sources on the campus said that despite efforts, the controller examination failed to get clear, five of its centres housed in college buildings located in PS-117 and PS-120 constituencies. The centres were meant for woman candidates of BCom and BA exams.

In addition, the KU authorities also anticipate the sensitivity of the area on Dec 10, when provincial by-elections would be held, and deemed it appropriate to postpone the exams of that day to save woman candidates from any untoward incident.

When contacted, the controller of examination, Dr S. Anwar Ali Zaidi, said that there was no other option but to postpone the papers of Dec 10. Not only the examination centres, but college staff from six colleges who had earlier been assigned invigilation duties by the varsity are required by the election authorities, he added.

He said there would be no examinations on the campus and colleges in the city on Dec 10 in view of by-elections, while new dates of the affected papers would be given later.

A source in KU said the examination department was also examining the possibility of postponing the degree exams of Dec 15 when a one-day international cricket match is scheduled to be held between Pakistan and England in the city.

In the meantime, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has directed the city government to announce a holiday for school and college students on Dec 15.