The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into allegations of answer book replacement during the Central Superior Services (CSS) 2022 exam, resulting in the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), a private TV channel reported on Wednesday.
The FIR targets an official of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), Nadeem Muhammad Khan, along with two CSS candidates, Ali Sher and Hular Ahmed, and another individual implicated in orchestrating the illicit operation.
Ex-Deputy Director FPSC, Mumtaz Hussain Shoukat, and others involved will be thoroughly examined during the investigation, raising concerns about the integrity of the CSS examination process, which plays a crucial role in recruiting top-tier government officials.
The FIR stems from a whistleblower complaint lodged by Unsar Hayat Gonsdal, Director General (Administration) at FPSC, Islamabad, prompting an inquiry that exposed startling details of the alleged malpractice. The accused are believed to have tampered with answer sheets during the CSS Examination 2022, with the motive behind the illicit operation being pecuniary gains amounting to Rs. 1 million.
An internal fact-finding inquiry conducted by a committee revealed that Nadeem Muhammad Khan replaced the answer books of the candidates with originals attempted by them in examination halls. Discrepancies in serial numbers and the issuance of answer books in the CSS 2022 exam have raised further suspicions.
The FIR has invoked legal charges under sections 34, 161, 409, 201 PPC (Pakistan Penal Code), and 5(2) 47 PCA (Prevention of Corruption Act) against Nadeem Muhammad Khan, Assistant FPSC (BS-16), and the implicated candidates, Halar Ahmed and Ali Sher. Muhammad Ibrahim, who allegedly facilitated the operation, is also named in the FIR. The unfolding investigation seeks to shed light on the extent of the alleged malpractice and uphold the integrity of the CSS examination process.
