The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered all medical colleges in Punjab to halt the expulsion of Afghan students and the cancellation of their examination papers, pending further hearing.
Justice Khalid Ishaq issued the directive while hearing more than 30 petitions filed by Afghan medical students challenging their removal from colleges across the province. The judge remarked that the students should be allowed to complete their education before being sent back to Afghanistan.
Counsel for the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) told the court that the Afghan students did not hold valid visas. He said the council had issued a notification after receiving directions from higher authorities.
Justice Ishaq questioned how the students had been granted admission on education visas in the first place, noting that four years of their lives had already been spent in these programs before the move to send them back.
The PMDC counsel argued that, as a matter of international practice, individuals cannot remain in a country without a valid visa. Justice Ishaq responded that the students should be allowed to complete their medical education first.
When the counsel described the matter as a question of state security, the judge rejected the characterization, stating that no security concern was involved and that no medical college would be permitted to expel any student or cancel their examination papers.
The court adjourned further proceedings until next Friday.
