KARACHI: Questions have emerged over changes to the examination results of around 150 LLB students at the University of Karachi. The students from SM Law College and Islamia Law College were initially declared unsuccessful in at least two subjects. However, revised results later showed many of them as successful after a scrutiny process.
The case has sparked questions about the rules governing the re-examination of answer scripts. Documents reportedly obtained during the investigation include original and revised mark sheets, award sheets, committee minutes and approval records.
LLB Students’ Results Changed After Scrutiny
According to the documents, a scrutiny committee met on August 5. Dean of the Faculty of Law Barrister Sarfraz Metlo chaired the meeting. The committee included representatives from both law colleges and the controller of examinations. It decided to re-examine answer scripts for Paper 5 of LLB Part II.
The following day, the controller obtained approval from then Acting Vice Chancellor Dr Tufail Ahmed. The approval reportedly included the words “other related cases.”
The process subsequently expanded to students who had failed Pakistan Studies.
Reports said some students who initially received zero or very low marks later received marks between 50 and 65. However, university officials have given different accounts of these changes.
University Officials Give Conflicting Accounts
Controller of Examinations Dr Yasir rejected the claim that failed students had been passed.
“It is incorrect information. No failed student was passed. I have nothing more to say,” he said.
However, Dean of the Faculty of Law Barrister Sarfraz Metlo confirmed that the university had changed some results. Metlo defended the process as lawful. He said the students had faced unfair treatment and claimed that 89% had failed under the same teacher.
He also said officials re-examined the papers in the presence of both college principals and the controller of examinations.
Metlo denied that students with zero marks had passed. Instead, he said the committee cleared students who had failed by only a few marks.
Former VC Questions Rechecking Process
Former University of Karachi Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi offered a different interpretation of the rules. Iraqi said students had previously submitted a collective application for scrutiny. However, university rules required students to apply individually.
He also said scrutiny under the annual examination system involved recounting marks. According to Iraqi, the rules did not permit officials to recheck answer scripts. For that reason, he had stopped an earlier request during his tenure.
The latest process has therefore raised questions about whether officials had the authority to conduct a fresh assessment of the answer scripts.
Law Colleges Defend Revised Results
SM Law College Principal Professor Fareed Dayo also defended the decision. He said around 180 students had failed under a teacher from Islamia Law College. According to Dayo, the committee reviewed their cases and passed students who had faced unfair treatment.
Islamia Law College Principal Professor Nadeem Advocate, however, distanced himself from the matter.
“I know nothing about it. Whatever you want to ask, ask the Dean of Law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the University of Karachi’s official website lists scrutiny as an examination service for LLB and LLM students.
New VC Faces Early Administrative Challenge
The controversy comes shortly after Dr Waseem Qazi took charge as the university’s new vice chancellor. The Sindh government appointed Qazi after the university spent months under an interim arrangement.
The revised results have already allowed affected students to continue their academic plans and prepare for subsequent examinations. However, the conflicting statements have left key questions unresolved. In particular, the university may need to clarify the authority used to re-examine the papers and alter the students’ results.
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