SHC delays MBBS entry exams over PMC-PMDC tussle

Sindh govt barred from holding exams under National Testing Service on Oct 18

The Sindh High Court restrained the provincial government on Friday from conducting entry tests for admissions in Bachelors of Medicines, Bachelors of Surgery (MBBS) programmes on October 18.

A bench led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar issued notices to the Sindh advocate-general and others over a plea pertaining to the entry tests, given the confusion under the old and new rules of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC).

The Sindh government has scheduled the entry tests, organised under the National Testing Service, for October 18 (tomorrow), the petitioner’s counsel told the court. According to the counsel, around 30,000 candidates from Sindh are appearing for tests in accordance with the old rules of PMDC.

Meanwhile, the PMDC’s counsel maintained that new laws have been introduced and tests will be conducted under the NTS according to the uniform syllabus across the country.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the test should be allowed as preparations have been made for 30,000 students.

However, the counsel representing the students prayed the court to postpone the tests scheduled for October 18.

Justice Mazhar observed that the contention was between the old rules of the PMDC and the new rules under the PMC. “The entry tests can be postponed till the matter is resolved,” he said, asking why the Centre and the provincial governments have made it a matter of their egos.

He stated that the court would issue notices to the federal government and decide once the Centre’s replies are received.

Meanwhile, the additional attorney general asked the court for three days’ time to submit written replies and maintained the tests could be delayed if the court so wished.

Barring the provincial government from conducting tests until a verdict is given on the pleas, the court issued notices to the parties and adjourned the hearing till October 22.

NAB IO summoned

Separately, a two-member bench headed by Justice Iqbal Kalhoro directed the investigation officer to appear before the court over a plea seeking the removal of adviser to the Sindh chief minister on prisons Aijaz Jakhrani’s name from the Exit Control List.

Jakhrani’s counsel, Mohsin Shehwani, argued that the case against his client was politically motivated and his client had cooperated with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Maintaining that Jakhrani would return to Pakistan as he is an adviser in the provincial government, the counsel prayed the court to remove Jakhrani’s name from the ECL and referred to previous decisions of courts allowing accused politicians to travel to make his case.

The bench remarked that it wanted to know the required terms and conditions to remove a name from the ECL.

“By when will the inquiry against Jakhrani be complete?” asked Justice Kalhoro.

NAB Sukkur’s prosecutor told the court that there were two separate inquiries underway against Jakhrani.

However, Jakhrani’s counsel told the court that the anti-graft watchdog had not issued a call-up notice to his client.

The NAB prosecutor failed to satisfy the court on Shehwani’s argument and the bench summoned the IO along with a report on the inquiries against Jakhrani on October 23.