KARACHI, April 18: Reports of using unfair means at Matric examination centres echoed at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, when the convenor allowed members to express their views on a resolution moved by the Opposition benches complaining against corrupt practices involving a “mafia.”

At the beginning of the proceedings, Opposition members drew the attention of the chair towards cheating complaints at Matric exam centres. Describing the situation as horrible, they insisted the issue be debated immediately and the House should formulate its response.

The meeting was chaired by Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, who allowed the Opposition leader to initiate the debate on the issue. Saeed Ghani, leader of Awam Dost Group, expressed concern over reports of cheating at exam centres, saying that an organized mafia was behind the cheating racket.

He warned that if urgent corrective measures were not taken, the situation would worsen. Mr Ghani was followed by other Opposition members including Rafiq Ahmed and Ramzan Awan of Al-Khidmat

Painting a grim picture of the alleged corrupt practices, Mr Ahmed said that the culture of copying and cheating was being promoted under a systematic plan to destroy the educational system in the city. He called for action against those officials who were responsible for creating a mess in the system.

Reciprocating the sentiments of the Opposition, Treasury leaders Asif Siddique, Masood Mehmood and Imran Khan said the issue was not related to any individual or party, as it was the concern of all.

Asif Siddique, leader of Haq Parast Group, suggested that education monitoring committees should be set up at the UC level, saying that committee members should visit educational institutions in their respective areas and see their progress.

Mr Imran Khan said Matric exams were being conducted by a board which is responsible to the Sindh government. He told the House that so far not a single complaint was received against any official of Education Department. Mr Khan said that vigilance committees had been set up to monitor the situation at examination centres.

Other members who took part in the debate included Mehbubur Rehman, Abdul Razzak, Abdul Rasheed Beg, Syed Taver Ali and Syed Fareed.

After a heated debate, the House unanimously voted for the resolution expressing concern over the rising trends of using unfair means at examination centres.

The resolution also called for steps to restore normal supply of electricity during ongoing examination period because it was creating a lot of problems for students.

However, the atmosphere of the house was abruptly changed when a resolution on the restoration of charged parking system at 12 spots in the city was introduced by the Treasury.When the convenor tabled the resolution, Opposition members stood up and expressed their reservations. They stressed that the issue was very sensitive and needed thorough debate because the system had failed in the past. But Treasury members insisted on voting, as the resolution was adopted by majority.

Protesting against the attitude of the Treasury, the Opposition members boycotted the session and shouted slogans against the charged parking system.

In the absence of the Opposition, the council adopted a resolution on power crisis in the city urging the KESC to exempt pumping stations from load-shedding

The house also adopted a resolution making immunisation binding for the issuance of birth certificate. In yet another resolution, the House urged the government to make suitable changes in the rules of rent control to give protection to tenants.

Later, Presiding Officer Nasreen Jalil adjourned the meeting to reconvene on April 26.