KARACHI, June 17: The health condition of two of the Sindh Medical College students observing a hunger strike outside the Karachi Press Club deteriorated considerably on Tuesday.

According to one of the aggrieved SMC students at the hunger strike camp, the health condition of two male students turned critical and their colleagues had to give medical aids to them on the spot.

Ambulances were called to shift M Fahad and Saifur Rehman, who got sick due to dehydration, to hospital. The students denied that they were put on a drip on their way to hospital.

The students had to bear a hot and humid day while on a fast to press their demands on the government for regularization of their MBBS admissions, which were disputed after a peaceful 3-5 years of study at the college. About 50 male and female students went on a ‘fast-till-death’ strike on Monday at 4pm.

Talking to newsmen after completing the first 24 hours of their strike, the students alleged the government was nerve-testing them. They said they would not succumb to any pressure and continue their strike till the time their demands were met. They said the government should immediately ensure regularization of their admissions, conduct of examinations and removal of the SMC principal.

In the meantime, two Muttahida legislators visited the students camp in the evening and heard them.

“The two visitors expressed sympathy with us and assured us of support,” said an affected student, adding that the Muttahida legislators had told them that since they were busy on account of the June 23 by-election in the city, the students should visit 90-Azizabad on June 25.

The students said that none of the health department officials or any other high-ups of the government had contacted them since their last press conference on June 14.