Federal Investigation Agency Investigates DUHS Officials for MDCAT Paper Leak
Insight MDCAT : The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has charged two senior officials from the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in connection with the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) paper leak. The officials stand accused of manipulating the examination process for "significant financial gain" while compromising the test's fairness and credibility.
On September 22, over 38,000 candidates participated in MDCAT, administered by DUHS across five cities in Sindh. However, shortly after the test, the Young Doctors Association accused DUHS of leaking the paper before the exam began, prompting calls for an inquiry.
A Sindh High Court bench, through a short order issued on October 26, mandated a retake of the exam within four weeks. This followed a unanimous conclusion by a probe committee that the test procedure conducted in Sindh on September 22 was compromised.
The retake, held on December 8, was fraught with mismanagement. The test began two hours late, causing undue stress and inconvenience to the 38,000 students.
FIR Details Allegations
On December 12, a first information report (FIR) was filed at the FIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Karachi. Human rights activist Bilawal Mallah initiated the complaint under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, including provisions for unauthorized access, electronic fraud, and forgery. Additional charges under the Pakistan Penal Code included criminal breach of trust, cheating, and forgery.
The FIR named the DUHS examination controller, deputy controller, and 13 other suspects. It outlined allegations that the suspects had engaged in buying and selling exam materials, using social media to breach confidentiality during the exam's preparation phase.
Findings of the Inquiry
The inquiry revealed unauthorized access to the exam content and its illicit distribution via social media. Confidential data, including key questions and answers, was leaked, violating the sanctity of the examination process. Statements from the suspects were recorded, and their mobile devices were confiscated during the investigation.
Forensic and technical reports indicated that the suspects were directly involved in orchestrating the leak. The leaked content was widely disseminated online, granting unauthorized access to others. Additionally, the accused reportedly gained substantial financial benefits from the leak, exploiting the examination system for monetary gain.
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Impact on Students and Authorities
The malpractice undermined the credibility of the MDCAT, damaging the trust of students and tarnishing the reputation of governing bodies responsible for the test. Many aspiring medical students suffered setbacks in their academic pursuits due to the compromised process.
Pending forensic reports for some suspects are expected to shed further light on the case.
Conclusion
The FIA's investigation concluded that the accused acted with criminal intent by leaking MDCAT questions, breaching trust, engaging in electronic fraud, and using forged documents. This breach of trust has serious implications for students, institutions, and the integrity of the examination system.
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