MANSEHRA: Former faculty members of Pakistan Scout Cadet College (PSCC) Batrasi have accused the institution’s top administration of financial embezzlement, nepotism and rule violations.

They also resented the termination of over 20 senior faculty members and insisted that performance of students had been badly affected.

During a news conference here on Wednesday, former vice-principal of the college Toqeerul Islam claimed that PSCC Batrasi, inaugurated by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1996, was known for academic excellence and achievements, but its academic standards had been eroded by “corruption and favouritism.”

Accompanied by terminated staff members,Mr Islam complained that the college’s 35 students failed to pass the recent annual exams conducted by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education.

He alleged that faculty members and principals were removed by Pakistan Boy Scouts Association chief commissioner Sarfaraz Qamar Dahain violation of employment rules.

Chief commissioner denies allegations

The former vice-principal claimed that Governor Faisal Karim Kundi raised the corruption issue with President and Chief Scout Asif Ali Zardari in Sept 2024.

Claiming to possess documentary evidence of corruption, he demanded an impartial investigation.

Mr Islam claimed that Rs20 million was fraudulently withdrawn from the college’s bank account through cheques on August 5, 2024, and anotherRs1 million from the same afterward.

He added that Rs5 million was withdrawn in the name of Scout Cadet College Islamabad and Rs10 million in the name of Cadet College Sharaqpur but both institutions didn’t exist.

Former faculty member Mohammad Shakeel claimed that a construction contract worth Rs80 million for the college mess was awarded without fulfilling legal formalities, and the contractor fled without completing the project.

“One side of the newly built, incomplete mess has tilted due to the use of substandard materials. The assistant commissioner, in an August 12, 2024, report, declared the entire tendering process illegal,” he claimed.

He accused the chief commissioner of acquiring a laptop and making appointments to key positions with lucrative packages without following legal procedures.

When contacted, chief commissioner of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association Sarfaraz Qamar Daha denied allegations and insisted that he expelled staff members on different valid grounds.

He also claimed that the college’s financial deposits had gone up from Rs300 million to Rs400 million during his tenure.

“I’ve nothing to do with the withdrawal of Rs20 million through blank cheques,as the principal is responsible for it. The matter has been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency for probe,” he said.

Mr Daha also said he had blacklisted the contractor for not completing construction work.

He said that he appointed highly-qualified faculty members to offer quality education.

“I have a privilege to have a laptop. It is official property and is currently used by me,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2025