LHC extends stay on PMDC notices against Afghan medical students

What happened

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday extended its stay against the expulsion and deportation of Afghan medical students and gave the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) more time to submit its reply, according to Dawn [1] and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) [2]. Justice Khalid Ishaq heard the case.

The petitions challenge PMDC notifications issued on July 31 and September 1 [1][2]. The petitioners asked the court to declare the notifications illegal and set them aside [1][2]. According to APP, they argue that neither the PMDC nor the educational institutions concerned had the legal authority to remove them from their medical programmes [2].

The number of petitioners differs between the reports. Dawn says the petitions were filed by over 30 Afghan students and names Syed Mubeenul Fatti among them [1]. APP says the petition was filed by 30 students and spells the name Syed Mubeen-ul-Fati [2].

During the hearing, the PMDC counsel told the court that the prime minister’s office had issued a direction to the relevant authorities to allow the Afghan students to continue their studies, subject to valid visa and immigration requirements [1]. When the judge asked about the written reply, the counsel sought time to submit it. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing to a date yet to be fixed by the office [1].

The court also extended its order restraining the authorities from deporting the students [1]. APP describes this as extending the court’s earlier order suspending the PMDC notifications that direct the students to leave Pakistan [2]. Dawn reports that the court had suspended the operation of the PMDC directives ordering the students to return to the neighbouring country on September 11 [1].

Who is affected

The case concerns Afghan students enrolled in medical colleges across Punjab, who were directed by PMDC notifications to return to their home country [2]. The petitioners are over 30 Afghan medical students, according to Dawn [1], or 30, according to APP [2].