SHC suspends PMDC orders against Afghan students

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday suspended orders issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday suspended orders issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) directing Afghan medical students to return to Afghanistan.

The court also barred authorities from taking any coercive action against the students until the next hearing on September 29.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, heard a petition filed by three Afghan medical students. They challenged the PMDC directive, arguing that it was issued without lawful authority.

The PMDC had issued the directive on September 1. It instructed Afghan students enrolled in Pakistani medical colleges to return to Afghanistan. It also stopped medical and dental colleges from admitting or placing Afghan students during the current academic session.

The three petitioners are studying at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). They were admitted under the Allama Mohammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme. They are expected to complete their MBBS degrees in April 2027.

The students told the court that they hold valid Pakistani visas on their Afghan passports. Their visas cover the duration of their studies.

The petition argued that the PMDC directive violated several constitutional rights. These included equality, life, liberty, dignity and due process.

The petitioners also raised concerns about the situation of female students in Afghanistan. They said returning female scholars could expose them to severe restrictions on education and gender-based persecution.

They argued that forced repatriation could interrupt their education and damage their future medical careers. They also rejected the claim that returning to Afghanistan would allow them to continue their studies.

The students asked the court to declare the PMDC and related DUHS notices unconstitutional and without legal effect. They also sought permission to continue their MBBS education in Pakistan.

The petitioners requested that they be allowed to attend classes and clinical rotations. They also sought uninterrupted access to examinations and university hostels.

The SHC has issued notices to the federal government, Ministry of Interior, PMDC, Higher Education Commission and DUHS. Notices were also issued to the Sindh police authorities and other respondents.

The court will hear the case again on September 29.