The Lahore High Court declared the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's (PMDC) order to seize question papers from candidates after the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) illegal and unconstitutional. Justice Ahsan Raza Kazmi allowed petitions filed by two candidates, Anabia Tahir and Rehan Shahid, challenging the council's policy.
The court directed the PMDC to upload the papers to its official application immediately. Barrister Imran Afrasiab argued that candidates should be permitted to keep question papers once they finish an examination.
The council had unilaterally introduced a policy this year requiring students to return both their answer sheets and question papers right after the test. In a separate ruling, the Lahore High Court extended an interim order preventing all medical colleges in Punjab from expelling Afghan students.
Justice Khalid Ishaq heard these petitions, which were submitted by more than 30 Afghan students facing expulsion from medical institutions. A notification from the PMDC on 1 September ordered Punjab medical colleges to require Afghan medical and dental students to complete formalities for their return to Afghanistan.
The council also instructed these colleges to halt any future admissions, transfers, or migrations involving Afghan nationals. The court had previously restrained the expulsion of Afghan medical students on 11 September.
