KARACHI, April 28: The HSC annual examinations commenced peacefully on Wednesday and no untoward incident was reported, officials in the Board of Intermediate Education claimed.

Over 58,000 candidates belonging to Science, Commerce and Home Economics groups appeared in examinations at about 165 centres in two shifts. About 84 vigilance teams, comprising college teachers visited different centres and stayed there during the conduct of examination.

However, it was learnt that some outsiders managed to enter the premises of a degree college in Sector 5/L, North Karachi, during the first shift of examinations, demanding of the centre superintendent to come out of his office as they wanted to talk on some issue.

According to college sources, the group, which entered the premises in the absence of adequate security arrangements, wanted that some candidates be "facilitated" in solving papers. However, the board authorities maintained that the group left the campus as police and the Rangers turned up immediately.

Reports about outsiders' interference were also received from the Government Degree College Buffer Zone, Degree College, 7-D/2, Korangi 2 1/2 Girls College, North Karachi and the Superior College, but the vigilance teams which visited the colleges in question did not find any considerable disturbances, added a board source.

Talking to Dawn, BIE chairman Prof Iftikhar H Zaidi said that he too visited a number of colleges, including the PECHS Women College, Superior Science College, Sector 5-L, North Karachi Degree College, Islamia Arts and Commerce College, Premier College and APWA Girls' College and found the arrangements, pertaining to security, amenities and invigilation, satisfactory.

"Over all, it was a good day, every thing was normal and no untoward incident happened at the centres," he added. Meanwhile, referring to the hot summer days, the students complained about inadequate arrangements at some of the centres. They demanded of the board to ensure proper supply of water and electricity at the centres, besides fans.

A board official confirmed that a bundle of about 200 blank answer scripts was lost during transportation from the board to various colleges a couple of days back, adding that centre superintendents had been informed about serial numbers of the lost answer scripts, so that any misuse of those by candidates could be averted.

However, some incidents of use of unfair means, besides threats and violence against examination officials have been reported on the first day of the examination, adds PPI.

Principal of the Government Superior Science College, Shah Faisal Colony, informed BIEK authorities, through a letter, regarding the threats he was receiving from miscreants to give them a separate room for using unfair means. Similarly, Girls Science College Korangi Principal Imrana Yasrab also complained about threats of violence.

SPLA: Meanwhile, The Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association strongly reacted over the incidents of threats and violence against teachers during examinations.