SAHIWAL: Responding to the complaints registered by students and parents, the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Sahiwal has constituted a high-level probe committee to investigate allegations of financial embezzlement in examination fees for the Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary School Certificate (1st Annual) Examinations, 2026.
According to official figures of the board controller, around 276,999 students appeared in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 examinations this year. Allegations surfaced that while many students submitted their examination fees as per rules and on prescribed challan forms, certain deposits did not reflect in the bank statements, raising concerns of financial embezzlement, mismanagement and possible financial irregularities.
Sources told Dawn, on condition of anonymity, that thousands of students had complained that their roll number slips did not arrive and they had challans of deposited amount with the authorised banks.
It is said a four-members committee has been formed convened by Shafique Ahmad Dogar, director Development & Finance, Ahsan Farooq, senior accountant, Commissioner Office, Gulzar Ahmad, resident auditor, Dr Muhammad Rafiq, associate professor/director ORIC, University of Sahiwal.
The convener may also co-opt additional financial experts if required.
According to an official document, a copy available with Dawn, the committee will verify all examination fee challans received in the finance branch, scrutinise records to ensure deposits were duly credited and reconciled with bank statements, identify and report discrepancies, duplications, embezzlement or irregularities in collecting and maintaining a complete record of receipts, challans and proceedings. The committee has been directed to submit a complete report within five working days.
Interestingly, order for the committee as well as signing was done by Gulam Hussain, assistant commissioner, (General), who is holding the additional charge of the secretary board since January 2026. It is in his tenure the above examination was conducted and fee financial embezzlement allegations surfaced.
ESCAPE CUSTODY: Six suspects escaped from custody of Yousafwala police near Five-Way Chowk, after attacking the police, snatching cash and official documents and assaulting officers.
According to details, ASI Waqar Ahmad had brought several detainees to the district courts premises in official vehicle. The court discharged four suspects — Altaf Nawaz, Muhammad Mushtaq, Muhammad Ashiq and Muhammad Asif — under preventive detention laws while other accused were produced before the court. As the police party and suspects were returning to the vehicle near Five-Way Chowk, Altaf Nawaz, Muhammad Mushtaq, Sherbaz, Asghar Nawaz, Ashfaq Nawaz, and Ali Tahir attacked ASI Waqar Ahmad. The suspects snatched Rs8,500 in cash and official papers, assaulted the officer, tore police uniforms, and took away police identity cards. They then freed other detainees and fled the scene.
Following the incident, Civil Lines Police registered a case.
Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026
