KARACHI, May 26: While the HSC annual examinations are only three days away, the Controller of Examinations, Board of Intermediate Education (BIE), Karachi, Prof Dr Syed Abdul Aziz, has resigned his controllership, it was officially learnt.

Though some sources maintained that the controller had decided to call it a day in view of external pressures and undue interference in the examination affairs, Dr Aziz categorically told Dawn on Saturday evening that he had tendered his resignation last Thursday for personal reasons.

“I have also sent an advance copy to my controlling authority, i.e. the Sindh governor,” he added, saying that he performed his duties on Saturday as well, while waiting for approval of his resignation by the competent authority.

Another source said that the sitting controller had decided to discontinue his services at the board to join a private sector organisation. However, a board official expressed the view that this was not the time to take such a decision.

When contacted, Chairman of the BIE, Prof Iftikhar H. Zaidi, said that he had forwarded the request of Dr Aziz to the Sindh governor for perusal and action. He clarified that there was no rift between him and the controller and it should be known by all that the examination department continued functioning under Dr Aziz on Saturday.