Lahore High Court Suspends Order to Return Afghan Medical Students to Afghanistan

Lahore High Court Suspends Order to Return Afghan Medical Students to Afghanistan
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The Lahore High Court has suspended the implementation of directives issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) ordering Afghan medical students enrolled in Pakistani institutions to return to Afghanistan, allowing them to continue their studies and resume access to hostels pending further proceedings.

The court’s decision came after petitions were filed by 13 Afghan medical students studying at medical institutions in Lahore, including King Edward Medical University, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College, and the Services Institute of Medical Sciences.

The students challenged PMDC directives issued on July 31 and September 1, arguing that the orders lacked legal authority and threatened their right to continue their education. They said the sudden measures resulted in their removal from colleges and eviction from hostels, leaving their academic futures uncertain.

Justice Khalid Ishaq of the Lahore High Court ordered the suspension of the PMDC directives and instructed that affected students be allowed to continue attending classes, sit for examinations, and return to university accommodation. The court also sought responses from the PMDC, the Ministry of Health, and relevant medical universities before the next hearing.

The dispute began after the PMDC issued a notification directing Afghan medical students enrolled in Pakistani colleges to return to Afghanistan and preventing institutions from admitting or placing Afghan students in the current academic session.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said there was no blanket government decision to send all Afghan students back, stating that foreign students enrolled in recognized programs with valid visas could remain in Pakistan and complete their education.

Human rights groups, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, had criticized the PMDC decision, warning that it could create a humanitarian and educational crisis for Afghan medical students, including female students who may face additional barriers to education.

The Lahore High Court’s ruling provides temporary relief for the affected students while the legal challenge against the PMDC directives continues.