HYDERABAD: Candidates who took pre-entry test for admission to MBBS and BDS programmes in medical universities and colleges of the province conducted by National Testing Service on Oct 22, their parents and members of civil society took to the streets in several Sindh towns on Wednesday in protest against apparent leak of paper a day before the test.

They demanded the test be conducted again, exemplary punishment be awarded to all the people responsible for the leak and NTS be blacklisted for playing with future of thousands of students.

In Hyderabad, enraged candidates carrying banners and placards held a demonstration outside local press club.

Sheeraz Nadeem, Irfan Samejo, Faisal and others who led the protest told reporters that they appeared in the test held at Public School Hyderabad but found to their horror the ‘key’ of the question paper had already been leaked and sold for over Rs1 to 2 million.

They said that Sindh chief minister must hold inquiry into the paper leak, punish the officials responsible for it and re-conduct the test. When such malpractice came to fore in Punjab, the provincial government immediately took its notice but Sindh government was still silent, they said.

They said the paper leak had disappointed them as it was “murder of merit” and regretted that candidates and their parents were holding protests daily and their supporters were raising voice on social media but the government remained unfazed. They would continue their protest until their demand was heard.

UMERKOT: A large number of candidates held a demonstration, accusing NTS administration of involvement in the paper leak. The protesters led by Ms Kunal, Utam, Ms Dipika and Ms Bakht­awar Rahimoo said that some of their fellow students who were always poor in studies had suddenly obtained more than 80 per cent marks in the test, which was next to impossible.

They said that ‘key’ of question paper was sent through social media to those who could afford to buy it 16 hours before the test. The “corrupt” NTS staff had shattered their dreams, they said.

They said that they sacrificed their time and sleep as well as money to be able to get through the test but in the end their legitimate right was snatched from them.

They urged Chief Justice of Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the leak, order an inquiry into the scam and issue directives to blacklist NTS.

They said that NTS had prohibited candidates to carry purses, calculators and mobile phones with them into the hall but some selected candidates were shown special leniency and were permitted to take all banned material with them into the hall.

They were seen talking to each other and cheating openly to solve the paper, which was further made difficult for the honest and hard-working students as it had six questions with no option under them to tick.

The protesters later staged a sit-in at Allah Wala Chowk but agreed to call it off two hours later after Deputy Commissioner Nadeemur Rehman assured them that he would talk to Sindh government to get their problem resolved.

MITHI: Candidates of NTS test, their parents and rights activists took to the streets in Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Kaloi and other towns in protest against the paper leak.

They demanded the test be held afresh under tight surveillance of some reputed institution.

BADIN: A large number of candidates of NTS test and members of civil society staged demonstrations in Badin, Matli and other towns of the district to protest against the paper leak and demanded stern action against the culprits.

KHAIRPUR: Candidates of NTS test held a demonstration outside local press club and demanded inquiry into the paper leak. They termed it a great injustice that those who could afford to buy the ‘key’ a day before the test solved it easily while the poor and hard-working students were deprived of their right to a level playing field, dimming their chances of success.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2017