Noor Khan Bakhrani Tangwani
Every year after CSS examination the second most important and exceptional MCQs based written examination known as Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) is conducted across the country for admissions in medical field as MBBS. The significance of this test is very high because it selects future professional doctors for the country. This is the only entrance test to enter into medical field to become a professional doctor. How deplorable! it is to relate about the irregularities, cheating and controversial test conducted in Sindh Province under the supervision of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) through Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) authorities which was assigned the task in Sindh Province to hold the MDCAT-2023 test Simultaneously at four centers in Sindh i-e Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawab Shah and Larkana. A day before scheduled time the MDCAT paper was fraudulently leaked and sold out in collusion with test conducting authorities and mafias. The leaked question paper was shared through social media accounts on WhatsApp numbers and groups to specific individuals who paid in between 30 to 40 lacs to mafias. The booklet was circulating by modern technology and went viral on social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp groups, messenger, Twitter account and kept on sharing through Bluetooth devices in Larkana, Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawab Shah cities. This is why most of the candidates who purchased paper scored above 190 out of 200. This is unbelievable and doubtful result even for a God-gifted, outstanding, extra-ordinary talented candidate. It is pertinent to mention here that every year if we go through final district-wise results of toppers from every district hardly very less number of meritorious guys could obtain the score of 180/200 and get admissions in DOW or JSMU on seats reserved for position holders. This time more than 40 candidates have got 190 and plus marks in probably paper leaked MDCAT entry test which is alarming and threatening figure for poor, clever, diligent and meritorious students who worked hard day and night and dreamed to be selected in MBBS on merit basis. All the hopes and dreams of deserving candidates were dashed to ground. This scenario of unexpected MDCAT-2023 results put in mental torture and agony to thousands of efficient and competent candidates. The parents invested countless resources and emotional support to their apple of eyes in order to see them in medical field as future professional doctors. But the mafias outdid and highjacked the whole process of entry test by purchasing and selling out the same to their dears and nears. The long cherished dreams and hopes of deserving poor students could not be fulfilled. Consequently, this time one can say that “Merit believers are losers and the cheaters are winners.” Now it has become the talk of town even though the elements involved in this national crime are admitting that prior to MDCAT date and time the paper was leaked and sold out in lacs of rupees to their dears and nears. Having gone through the contents of MDCAT past years the same game was played with the students in different modes; sometimes answer key was leaked and sometimes marks were purchased through agents. However! year by year the use of unfair-means in MDCAT entry test has been repeated to snatch the right of meritorious poor diligent students. In past if mafias had been exposed, arrested, trialed and awarded stern punishment obviously, today merit would have been prevailed. Under the recent fraudulently leaked paper scandals MDCAT should be re-conducted to ensure smooth, fair and transparent entry test to redress the grievances of thousands of aspirants who have been disheartened and raising their voice against massive corruption and cheating in MDCAT. Though the Chief Secretary Sindh constituted a seven members committee which is gathering evidences and proofs of MDCAT paper leakage in Sindh. Every rank and file knows it very well that paper was leaked and circulated through social media accounts on WhatsApp groups across the Sindh Province. Thousands affected candidates, civil society and parents have expressed their serious concerns, doubts and displeasure over whole process of inquiry because committee has done nothing so far except delaying tactics to silence the voice of protestants by gaining some time. They are repeating one thing that despite multiple evidences of paper leakage why JSMU authorities are speechless and blindfolded over burning issue MDCAT-2023. No any action has been taken against the mafias who were involved in this grave crime.The government has untold resources and diverse approaches to unearth the realities to prove or reject the allegations of paper leakage and sharing the paper through modern technology. A period of two weeks was elapsed but parents and candidates are facing uncertainty and anxiety regarding official announcement to declare the massively rigged and fabricated entry test process null and void. Let’s hope for the best that soon MDCAT-2023 will be re-conducted in the best interest of merit and justice.