Afghan Medical Students Challenge PMDC Repatriation in LHC

Key Takeaways

• 13 Afghan medical students filed petitions in LHC against PMDC repatriation directives.
• Petitioners include 7 women and 6 men enrolled in top Lahore medical colleges.
• Students argue PMDC lacks legal authority under the PMDC Act 2023 to expel them.
• Many petitioners hold Allama Iqbal Scholarships under the Higher Education Commission program.
• Evictions from college hostels have left the students without accommodation or clear academic futures.

Afghan Medical Students Contest PMDC Directive in Lahore High Court

Thirteen Afghan medical students, including seven women and six men, have approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) to challenge directives issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) ordering their repatriation to Afghanistan.

Represented by Advocate Asad Jamal, the petitioners were enrolled in prominent Lahore institutions such as King Edward Medical University, Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical & Dental College.

Legal Arguments Against PMDC Action

The petitioners assert that the PMDC lacks the statutory authority under the PMDC Act 2023 to arbitrarily expel foreign students. According to court filings reported by Dawn News, the students argue that regulatory powers must align with Pakistan's constitution and international legal obligations.

Key concerns raised in the petitions include:

• Unlawful expulsion without prior notice or fair legal process.
• Sudden evictions from university hostels, leaving foreign students displaced.
• Disruption to scholars under the HEC Allama Iqbal Scholarship programme.

Impact on Female Scholars

Several female petitioners, such as Nilofar Nikzad, had previously fled Taliban restrictions on female education in Afghanistan to continue their studies in Pakistan. The sudden repatriation directive puts their educational careers and personal safety at severe risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Afghan students challenge PMDC in the Lahore High Court?

Thirteen Afghan students petitioned LHC after PMDC directed medical colleges to expel and repatriate them to Afghanistan without legal authority.

Which medical colleges in Lahore are involved in the PMDC case?

Enrolled institutions include King Edward Medical University, SIMS, and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical College.

What is the role of HEC in supporting these Afghan students?

Many petitioners received Allama Iqbal Scholarships from Pakistan's Higher Education Commission to continue their medical studies.

Originally reported by Dawn News. Enhanced and optimized for search by TechVeb.