SC orders PMDC to decide applications on new medical colleges

Also takes suo motu notice of alleged fake encounters

LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday ordered Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to finalize applications of three new medical colleges including Al-Aleem Medical College Lahore, Niazi Medical College Sargodha and CMH Kharian Medical College, Kharian for recognition in a week's time. The court directed the PMDC to scrutinise the applications of the said colleges in accordance with the new criteria besides allowing a three months’ time to meet the deficiencies and shortcomings as per the set criteria.

The court also directed the owners and administration to submit an affidavit that they would be subject to legal and civil action in case of non-compliance. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, passed the orders while lifting a ban on the recognition of new medical colleges to the extent of petitioner-colleges on their applications in suo motu notice against exorbitant fee structure of private medical colleges. On the outset of the hearing, the bench criticised Pak Red Crescent Medical College (PRCMC) administration for not providing required facilities and completing the faculty in the college.

However, PRCMC's counsel submitted that due to various reasons, the college faced certain problems and requested the court to grant six months’ time to overcome those shortcomings. To which, the bench observed that it could not allow six months’ time and directed the authorities concerned to overcome the shortcomings within three months.

A Federal Investigation Agency representative also submitted a report on the investigations, carried out into the PRCMC issue in compliance with the court orders. The counsel, on behalf of Al-Aleem Medical College and Niazi Medical College, requested the bench for directions to the PMDC for finalising their applications for their recognition. At this, the bench ordered the PMDC to finalise their applications in accordance with the criteria while adjourning the further hearing.

‘Encountered’

In another case, the Supreme Court branch headed by CJ Nisar converted an application moved by a mother against the killing of her son in an alleged encounter, into a suo motu notice and summoned all accused including police officials on April 7.  The court also called on Additional Inspector General Investigation Abu Bakr Khuda Baksh on the next date of hearing, besides appointing amicus curiae, in the matter.

Earlier, Sughra Bibi appeared before the bench and submitted that her 18-year-old son, Mohsin, was killed in an alleged encounter at Begum Kot near Shahdara Lahore in 2008. She also submitted that it had been proved that the encounter was staged in a judicial inquiry conducted on the directions of district and sessions judge Lahore.

Punjab Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir also apprised the bench about the background of the incident in accordance with documents provided by the applicant. At this, the bench summoned the accused including the police officials on April 7 while adjourning the further hearing.

Meanwhile, the bench also issued notices to accused involved in another alleged encounter on an application. Amina Bibi had moved the application against the alleged killing of his son in an encounter.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2018.