The Lahore High Court has suspended the execution of orders issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) calling for the expulsion and return of Afghan medical students to their home country. The ruling, which temporarily restores the educational rights of Afghan students, was welcomed by Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad.
Kabul 24: Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb expressed gratitude for the court’s decision and the clarification from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that valid visa holders can continue their education. He voiced hope that Pakistani authorities would adopt a clear, consistent, and practical approach so that legally registered students can complete their specialized training under full legal protections without unnecessary disruptions.
The judicial order followed a petition filed by 13 Afghan students enrolled in prominent medical institutions in Lahore, including King Edward Medical University, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College, and Services Institute of Medical Sciences. The PMDC had issued notifications on July 31 and September 1 instructing Afghan students to leave Pakistan while prohibiting medical and dental institutions from admitting or allocating seats to Afghan nationals for the current academic year.
During Friday’s hearing, defense attorney Asad Jamal argued that the council’s decision violated his clients’ fundamental rights to education, life, and human dignity without granting them the opportunity to defend themselves. He added that the PMDC had exceeded its statutory authority. Although PMDC counsel Haris Azmat argued that the directive was tied to national security, Justice Khalid Ishaq rejected the argument and stayed both directives.
Under Justice Ishaq’s ruling, Afghan students are permitted to return to their dormitories, attend classes, and sit for examinations while the case remains under judicial review. The court has directed the PMDC, the Ministry of Health, and heads of the relevant medical institutions to submit their formal responses ahead of the next scheduled hearing on September 18.
