LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday suspended the operation of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) directives requiring Afghan medical students enrolled in Pakistani institutions to return to Afghanistan. Justice Khalid Ishaq issued the interim order while hearing petitions filed by 13 Afghan students studying at various medical institutions in Lahore, including King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College and the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS).
The petitioners challenged the PMDC directives requiring them to leave Pakistan and return to Afghanistan, arguing that the decision could disrupt their medical education and academic careers. During the hearing, the court suspended the operation of the directives against the petitioners, granting them interim relief while their legal challenge is considered.
The students are enrolled in medical programmes at some of Lahore’s leading institutions and have been pursuing their studies under the existing regulatory framework. The court’s intervention temporarily prevents the implementation of the directives against the 13 petitioners. However, the suspension is an interim measure and does not amount to a final decision on the legality of the PMDC’s directives.
The case also highlights the broader challenges faced by foreign students pursuing professional education in Pakistan, where regulatory decisions can have significant consequences for academic continuity and future professional careers.