LAHORE, Jan 19: The Punjab University on Monday dismissed from service five examination branch officials on the charge of tampering with the results of MA economics annual examinations, 2002.

Headed by additional controller of examinations, an inquiry committee had found, after a probe, five officials responsible for tampering with 70 results.

The Punjab University had, on anonymous complaints, found that the results of 70 candidates were tampered with, who had either remained absent from the examinations or failed in the examination.

The initial inquiry had confirmed that the final award lists were tampered with to change the results. After receiving the thorough inquiry report, the PU registrar gave a person hearing to the accused officials on Monday afternoon and later dismissed them from service.

The dismissed officials are: junior clerks Khalid Saleem, Sajjad Ali and Ghulam Mustafa, admn officer Muhammad Siddique and assistant controller Ijaz Ahmad, who was working on contract basis after his retirement.

Registrar Col Masudul Haq (retired) said scrutineers Riaz Muhammad Qadri, Muhammad Saleem, Rasheed Ahmad and Rafique Chughtai were found involved in the case and had been relieved of their duties.

He said increments of assistant (MA Hall) Muhammad Shafiq have been stopped for three years; assistants (form section) Mukhtar Ahmad and (awards) Mirza Mahmood Beg had been given warning. Junior clerks Kamran Ahsan and Ghulam Murtaza were acquitted of charges as no evidence held them guilty.