Interior Ministry Orders NCCIA Probe Into Cambridge Leaks
The Ministry of Interior has ordered the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to investigate alleged Cambridge examination paper leaks in coordination with Cambridge International Education, as public concern grows among students and parents across Pakistan. The directive was issued after repeated reports of leaked Mathematics papers during the ongoing May-June assessment session.
The decision followed a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha. Officials reviewed the latest complaints and discussed steps required to protect examination integrity.
The issue intensified after Cambridge confirmed that another A-Level Mathematics paper had been leaked before the examination. Students had claimed that a paper scheduled for the afternoon of May 12 was circulating on social media hours before the exam began, raising serious questions about security and supervision.
According to the ministry’s statement, the interior secretary expressed serious concern over the alleged leaks and directed the NCCIA director general to conduct a thorough investigation with Cambridge. Officials said findings should be shared in a timely manner to ensure transparency and restore public confidence.
During the meeting, representatives of Cambridge said the institution follows strict standards for transparent examinations. The British deputy high commissioner also reportedly told participants that the matter appeared to involve theft rather than a routine paper leak, suggesting that investigators may examine criminal access, circulation and digital sharing of exam material.
Cambridge has assured Pakistani authorities that it will provide an official update after assessing the scale of the breach. The institution has already postponed the Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics Paper 32, which had been scheduled to take place in Pakistan on Friday.
The controversy is not limited to one paper. Earlier, an A-Level Mathematics paper conducted on April 29 was also leaked, leading Cambridge to cancel the exam for students in administrative zones 3 and 4 and announce a retake. Reports of partial leaks in other papers have further increased anxiety among candidates.
For Pakistan’s students, the crisis has created uncertainty at a critical academic stage. Cambridge qualifications are widely used for university admissions, scholarships and international education pathways, so repeated breaches can disrupt planning, increase stress and undermine trust in the examination process.
The next phase will depend on how quickly the NCCIA, Cambridge and education authorities identify the source of the alleged leaks and prevent further circulation of confidential material. Parents and students will now be watching for clear timelines, accountability and safeguards before the remaining examinations proceed.