By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry on Thursday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to launch a full inquiry into the premature circulation of Cambridge International Education exam papers, escalating a controversy that has unsettled thousands of students and their families across the country.
The order came after a high-level meeting at the ministry, convened on the instructions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and chaired by Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha. The session brought together senior officials from the education ministry, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Council and representatives of Cambridge Assessment International Education.
According to a government statement, the directive followed weeks of public anxiety after students and parents reported that multiple O-level and AS-level mathematics papers had appeared on social media before their scheduled exam dates. Cambridge International Education confirmed on Wednesday that an AS-level Mathematics Paper 52 (9709), administered this week in Pakistan, had been shared prematurely in violation of its regulations — the second such incident acknowledged by the board during the current examination cycle.
In an earlier statement, Cambridge said it was investigating the matter “promptly and thoroughly” and was working to determine the full extent of the leak and the next steps. The board had already announced the postponement of an A-level Mathematics Paper 32 (9709) and said it would provide schools with detailed guidance by May 22. It also confirmed that an AS-level paper from April 29 would be rescheduled for a retake on June 9, describing the episodes as “unprecedented” and the work of individuals attempting to undermine the examination system and students’ futures. Cambridge has said it is pursuing legal action against those responsible.
During Thursday’s meeting, Federal Education Secretary Nadeem Mahbub briefed participants on the government’s and parents’ concerns over the reported circulation of O-level mathematics papers. The British deputy high commissioner told those present that the incidents appeared to involve theft rather than a traditional paper leak. Cambridge representatives reiterated that the organization adheres to strict standards designed to safeguard the transparency and integrity of its examinations.Education Ministry officials also pressed Cambridge for its official position on reports of additional leaks, citing ongoing distress among students and families. Cambridge officials assured the gathering that a formal update would be issued as soon as possible.
Agha, the interior secretary, expressed “serious concern” over the alleged leaks and called for coordinated action to resolve the matter quickly. He instructed the director general of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, Syed Khurram Ali, to conduct the probe in close coordination with Cambridge and to ensure that all decisions taken in the meeting were implemented promptly. The ministry statement emphasized that investigation findings should be shared in a timely manner to preserve public confidence. Participants also agreed that Cambridge would move to strengthen its internal systems to close any identified weaknesses or loopholes in the examination process.
Each year, thousands of Pakistani students sit for Cambridge O- and A-level examinations, which serve as a primary pathway to university admission both domestically and abroad. The latest developments have added to mounting frustration in a country where the Cambridge system is viewed as a rigorous and internationally recognized credential. Officials on both the Pakistani and British sides have stressed the need to protect the credibility of the process while addressing the immediate fallout for students whose exam schedules have been disrupted. The Interior Ministry said the cybercrime agency’s investigation would proceed with full coordination among all stakeholders.
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