Lahore, when rules and regulations were ignored, messed up results appeared in Punjab educational boards when a computer programme was launched to register candidates and prepare results all in desecration of rules. Advocate Azhar Siddique put up his arguments on Friday before a judicial commission probing into the fiasco that the boards’ rules state the authorities are bound to notify a new system two years before its implementation.  In his opinion, the boards should have either notify the launch of computerised examination system two years ago, or should have implement it after two years.

No such thing happened in this case as the whole project was launched in hurry, and the project was given to Dr Majid Naeem for he was the kind of an influential senator, said Mr Siddique before one-man commission Justice Chaudhry Shahid Saeed. The issue hit the headlines when the results of intermediate examination, 2011, full of mistakes were announced all over the province.

Mr Siddique had requested the commission on Thursday to allow him to put up evidences with regard to failure of computerised and online systems. On Friday, he presented some papers to the commission, which were not made public.

The commission observed that blood of those candidates who committed suicide to protest incorrect results would not go waste. Two candidates died of suicide for, what the media reported, their shock over the bad results. Intermediate examinations matter a lot for the candidates for every single mark in papers can make or ruin their future.

While discussing the result disaster, the judge said all schools in Punjab should have been made Danish schools in order to enforce a uniform education system. “Either there should be no Aitchison or there should be all Aitchisons,” the judge used the metaphor for elite schools. The judge also expressed his concern over the deterioration of country’s education system. The lawyer said that educational institutions should be free from political influence to improve education system in the country. 

Another former IT consultant, held Dr Naeem and his appointing authority responsible for the messed-up results. However, he chose not to disclose the name of the appointing authority.

The commission adjourned proceedings till Saturday (today) and directed Mr Samdani to submit his appointment letter. Commission would go through the statements and materials submitted by the involved parties.