Indian SIMs used in leaking exam papers: Sindh education minister

KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Jam Mehtab Dehar has claimed that Indian mobile phone SIMs were being used in leaking question papers for the ongoing Board of Intermediate Education examinations in the province.

"All departments are on alert. It has been pointed out that the SIMs being operated are Indian SIMs. Because of our relations with the neighbouring country, all agencies have been alerted," said the provincial minister on Saturday.

Dehar's statement came as the question paper for the twelfth-grade physics exam was leaked on social media this morning, forty minutes before the exam was scheduled to commence at 9.30 AM.

"This is very alarming. We have asked the Board to cooperate with FIA and assured that we will also provide all information we have. As per the chief minister's orders, we have also involved the CTD so that we can see this from multiple angles," the education minister said.

Crackdown launched against cheating mafia

Shortly afterwards, the provincial government launched an extraordinary crackdown against the cheating mafia, as Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah handed over the investigation to the Counter-Terrorism Department of Sindh Police.

Additional Inspector-General Sanaullah Abbasi told Geo News that a two-member team has been formed, headed by DIG CTD Amir Farooqui, to lead the find out the culprits behind the cheating mafia in the province. 

Read more: Exam season fiasco: papers leaked, students cheating in Sindh classrooms

Earlier this week, the mathematics paper for intermediate part-II also reached candidates before time, after authorities were made aware of WhatsApp groups being used for cheating.

Five exam question papers have been leaked this year. Examination rooms have been hit by a wave of tech-savvy cheating techniques, which has raised questions over lacklustre management, corrupt administration, and the use of innovative methods by the cheating mafia.

Question paper for the chemistry exam for intermediate part-II is also among the leaked exam papers this year. The question paper was leaked via social media 15 minutes before the exam's scheduled time – 9 AM.