LHC bars Punjab medical colleges from expelling Afghan students

• Justice Ishaq hears petitions filed by over 30 Afghan students.
• PM&DC lawyer says students did not have required documents.
• LHC judge adjourns further proceedings until next Friday.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday barred all medical colleges in Punjab from expelling Afghan medical students amid petitions challenging their removal.

Justice Khalid Ishaq heard petitions filed by more than 30 Afghan students against their expulsion from medical colleges in the province.

During the hearing, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's (PM&DC) lawyer argued that the Afghan students did not have the required documents.

"The principle across the world is that you cannot stay without a valid visa," the lawyer said.

Justice Ishaq questioned how the students had been granted education visas when they were admitted to medical colleges.

The judge also questioned the decision to send the students back after four years of education, observing that the students should have been heard before any decision was taken against them.

The PM&DC lawyer argued that the matter concerned state security and cited visa requirements in the United States.

"Even in America, you cannot stay without a valid visa," the lawyer said.

Justice Khalid Ishaq remarked that the students could be sent back after completing their medical education.

Rejecting the state security argument, the judge said there was no state security issue involved in the matter.

The LHC judge directed that no medical college would expel the students or cancel their examination papers, and adjourned further proceedings until next Friday.

The development comes a day after the PM&DC clarified that there was no nationality-based prohibition on medical education in Pakistan.

In a statement, the PM&DC said that its ongoing review of Afghan medical students was a matter of regulatory compliance and documentation rather than discrimination against any particular nationality.

Pakistan continued to welcome foreign nationals seeking medical and dental education in the country in accordance with its regulatory framework and applicable government policies, it said, adding that foreign students who fulfilled the prescribed academic, registration, documentation and immigration requirements were facilitated through the established system.

The council said a verification and regulatory review of Afghan medical students had established that more than 200 were studying medicine in Pakistan, whereas only 22 were presently registered with PM&DC.

"Of these, 14 had completed their degree programmes while eight were expected to graduate next year," it added.

The council noted, however, that completion of a medical degree did not by itself confer a right to remain in Pakistan for employment or medical practice, and that those intending to practice in Pakistan must fulfil applicable licensing and registration requirements.

The verification process concerning the remaining 176 students was still underway, and the figure was therefore subject to final confirmation, the council said.

PM&DC said students who were not registered with it and did not possess the requisite permission under the applicable framework could not be treated as lawfully enrolled foreign medical students within Pakistan's regulated medical education system, adding that its actions were based on documented status, applicable rules and directions of the competent authorities.