ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has held the National Testing Service (NTS) responsible for the irregularities in the examinations conducted by the agency for recruitment in Upper Dir.

In a report presented before the sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, the FIA held the NTS responsible for the irregularities in the test conducted for recruitment in Upper Dir, and also apprised the panel that it was going to lodge a first investigation report (FIR) against the NTS.

The committee, which met in convenership of MNA Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, discussed in detail, the alleged irregularities in the NTS tests conducted for recruitment in Upper Dir.

The convener of the committee asked the high NTS official, if any FIR of the alleged irregularities was registered.

Tayyab Akram, the CEO NTS said that no FIR was registered.

The convener again asked as to why no FIR had been registered so far.

On this, the additional director of the FIA presented its report before the committee of the alleged irregularities, saying that the FIA was going to register an FIR against the NTS for being responsible for the irregularities.

The report blames the NTS management for the irregularities in the NTS examinations, adding that the incident falls in the category of criminal negligence and due to the alleged negligence of the NTS the irregularities took place.

Committee member Mohsin Dawar maintained that all the papers of the NTS tests last year were leaked out.

The convener again asked as to who founded the NTS.

On this, officials of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) told the committee that it was founded by Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS).

Additional Secretary Establishment Division told the committee that the NTS had always introduced itself as a private company.

The committee, however, asked the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) to present before the committee its requirements for regularising the testing agencies.

The panel also asked the FPSC to present a comprehensive report on the recruitment process for grades 1 to 15.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020