KOHAT – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government suspended BISE Kohat Controller of Examinations Dr Tahirullah Jan, a BS-19 officer, for 120 days with immediate effect as an inquiry continues into alleged irregularities in examination records, including suspected manipulation of answer sheets and fake e-sheets.
According to an official departmental notification, Elementary and Secondary Education Department has placed BISE Kohat Secretary Daraz Khan in charge of the Controller of Examinations on a look-after basis.
The notification itself does not specify the reason for Dr Tahirullah Jan’s suspension and instead refers to a letter issued by the BISE Kohat chairman. However, well-informed sources have linked the action to an ongoing departmental inquiry into alleged irregularities in the board’s annual matriculation and intermediate examinations.
The investigation is reportedly examining 42 examination records involving 19 matriculation and 23 intermediate students. The records are said to have come from different examination centres falling under the jurisdiction of BISE Kohat.
Sources said the inquiry has reached its final stage, with investigators examining additional evidence concerning the alleged alteration of examination records. The scope of the investigation was also reportedly widened as further information emerged.
The role of the board’s Store In-charge, along with other officials and employees, is also being examined as part of the probe.
According to sources, some answer sheets were allegedly altered on the instructions or at the behest of a senior official. This claim has not been independently verified, and responsibility cannot be assigned unless the ongoing inquiry establishes the facts.
The allegations have also raised questions about the security and chain of custody of examination material. Investigators are expected to determine who had access to the relevant answer sheets and e-sheets, whether established handling procedures were followed, and at what stage any alleged changes may have occurred.
Another key aspect of the inquiry is whether the alleged alterations affected students’ marks, examination results or official academic records. If unauthorized changes are established, the consequences could extend beyond examination results and potentially affect admissions, academic progression and other educational opportunities.
Education circles have called for a forensic and documentary comparison of original examination records with the allegedly altered documents. They have also urged authorities to conduct a fresh review of the records of all students potentially affected by the alleged irregularities.
The review could also examine staff deployment, access controls, record-keeping, verification mechanisms and the procedures followed at examination centres and within the board to determine whether established safeguards were properly implemented.
The controversy has put the examination-record management system of BISE Kohat under scrutiny. With thousands of students relying on the board for secure and accurate examination results, the final inquiry is expected to establish what occurred, whether any students were affected and whether additional safeguards or administrative measures are required.
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