KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday called for transparency in the recent Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and an impartial investigation into the results of around 150 LLB students at the University of Karachi, demanding that students’ concerns be addressed and those responsible for any irregularities be held accountable.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq, JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan said students who had raised concerns over the conduct and transparency of the MDCAT should be provided with their question papers while the examination process and results should be independently scrutinised.

He said the JI had written to the president of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), urging the council to ensure transparency in the examination, arrange an impartial review of the results of the top 100 candidates and disclose a complete account of the money collected as examination fees.

The JI leader also called for a transparent investigation into the results of approximately 150 LLB students at the University of Karachi’s law department.

He said any questions about changes in examination results or the procedures used to declare students successful must be investigated impartially.

“Action against a single official is not enough. The facts of the entire matter must be brought to light”, he said, stressing the need to identify those responsible if any irregularities were established.

Turning to the city’s wider governance issues, the JI leader criticised the provincial government and relevant institutions for failing to address Karachi’s persistent problems, including deteriorating infrastructure, water shortages, street crime and inadequate public services.

The JI leader also criticised K-Electric over prolonged announced and unannounced power outages. He described the power utility as a “white elephant” and accused it of failing to provide relief to consumers despite collecting substantial electricity bills and additional charges.

He said loadshedding had made life miserable for Karachi residents, with some areas reportedly experiencing power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day. Even consumers who paid their bills in full, he said, were not spared from the outages.

He also expressed concern over the worsening water crisis, blaming delays in the expansion of the K-IV water supply project for adding to residents’ difficulties.

He said the project involved laying approximately 96 kilometres of pipelines, but progress had remained unsatisfactory despite the passage of several years.

Questions had also been raised about the quality and pace of pipeline work between Nipa and Hasan Square, he added.

The JI leader urged the government to establish an effective monitoring mechanism, ensure the quality of construction and complete the project within a stipulated timeframe.

He warned that further excavation of roads for the K-IV expansion could aggravate traffic congestion, particularly as University Road was already causing difficulties for commuters because of work on the Bus Rapid Transit Red Line project.

The government and relevant agencies, he said, should make adequate alternative traffic arrangements before launching further roadwork to prevent additional disruption to daily life.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026