LHC orders halt to repatriation of Afghan medical students

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered a halt to implementation of the government’s directive to repatriate Afghan medical students back to their country till further orders, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

LHC’s Justice Khalid Ishaq heard the petition of 30 Afghan medical students on Friday and issued notices to Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and others, seeking their replies on next hearing on September 18.

Thirty Afghan students including Syed Mobeenul Fati moved the high court challenging PMDC’s notifications issued on July 31 and September 1.

In their petition, the Afghan students also made University of Health Sciences (UHS) and all medical colleges of Punjab as respondents.

They prayed to the court to declare null and void the expulsion notices issued to them by King Edward, Allama Iqbal, Services Medical Colleges and other institutions.

The Afghan students argued that they were getting education legally in Pakistan under Allama Iqbal 4500 Scholarship Programme. PMDC or the medical colleges have no authority to expel or repatriate them, the added.
They further said that steps like their expulsion from hostels and blocking of their online classes were unconstitutional and violation of basic rights.
They maintained there was a complete ban on the education of female students in Pakistan and sending these students back to their country would be injustice to them and also putting them at risk.

The students urged the court to order the authorities to ensure continuation of their education and stay at the hostels under the final decision is reached on their petition.
The also requested the court to cancel the orders for their repatriation to Afghanistan.