LHC suspends PMDC’s return orders for Afghan medical students

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday suspended the operation of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) directives ordering Afghan medical students to return to the neighbouring country. The decision came from Justice Khalid Ishaq, who was hearing a set of petitions filed by 13 Afghan students enrolled at different institutions in Lahore, including King Edward Medical University, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College and the Services Institute of Medical Sciences. The pleas were filed after the PMDC issued a notification in September 1, directing Afghan medical students enrolled in Pakistani colleges “to return to Afghanistan”. The notification also barred medical and dental colleges from granting admission or placement to Afghan students for the current academic session.

In their pleas, the students referred to the Sept 1 notification, as well as a similar July 31 directive by the PMDC, and requested the LHC to declare them “illegal and unconstitutional”, without lawful authority and void from inception. On Friday, Advocate Asad Jamal, who was representing the petitioners, contended that the students had been condemned unheard and their rights to education, life and dignity had been violated as the council had transgressed it’s jurisdiction under the PMDC Act. He said the petitioners’ fundamental rights should be treated in accordance with law. On the other hand, the council’s lawyer, Haris Azmat, argued against the suspension of the directives, saying that it was a matter of national security. Justice Ishaq, however, rejected the argument and ordered that the operation of Sept 1 and July 31 directives by the PMDC should be suspended. He further directed that students be allowed to continue education, sit their examinations…