LAHORE, July 27: Candidates appearing for MA Urdu part-I paper ‘Iqbal Ka Khasoosi Mutalia’ on Friday had to attempt ‘out-of-course’ questions, Dawn has learnt. Candidates said when they protested against the questions, they were snubbed by invigilators and told to attempt it or leave the examination hall.

Talking to Dawn, regular and private candidates said four questions were out of their prescribed course.

A teacher from the Government Islamia College for Women, Cooper Road, said the Punjab University (PU) had changed the syllabus this year and had notified but the question-paper held questions from the old course.

She said that she had learnt that a large number of private candidates also could not attempt the paper based on old course.

The teacher said a complaint on behalf of the candidates would be submitted with the office of the controller of examinations.

Deputy controller of examinations Jalil Tariq said no candidate had boycotted the paper but candidates had protested that the paper was out-of-course.

Controller of examinations Prof Taqi Zahid Butt said he would “sympathetically” consider the case and if the complaint was found genuine and the Board of Studies (BoS) took up the complaint in stipulated time, the university would arrange re-examination.

DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM: The PU on Friday conducted the supplementary examination of MA mass communication (Development Journalism) for 29 candidates who failed.

The candidates were protesting against the results, claiming that the paper was out-of-course and they had informed the controller of examinations. They said the controller had assured them of lenient marking and grace marks.

Later, they were denied grace marks. They gave a presentation to the Punjab governor and filed a writ petition with the Lahore High Court to seek implementation of the BoS’ decision. The court has issued notices to the PU vice-chancellor, controller of examinations and BoS chairman for August 3.

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

IT appears that the PPP is in a comfortable position to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan after Sunday’s...
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...