August 26, 2007	Sunday	Sha’aban 12, 1428

PESHAWAR, Aug 25: The students of Jinnah Medical College (JMC) on Saturday called upon the provincial government to adjust them in medical colleges approved by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

The students assembled outside the Peshawar Press Club and distributed leaflets informing the reporters and the general public about the unrecognised status of their college and expressed concern over their uncertain future.

At least, 170 male and female students are enrolled at the JMC, which is affiliated with the University of Peshawar, but not recognised by the PMDC.The protesters said their college only had a training arrangement with the Charsadda district hospital. “The college charges Rs300,000 from each student as admission and tuition fees each year,” they said.

A PMDC team had visited medical colleges in the area to see for themselves the facilities being provided to students. The team visited the JMC on June 26, 2007, and expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements there and ordered its closure, they said.

They students regretted that despite the support of the NWFP government, the college was not recognised by the PMDC.

They requested the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice and order the provincial government to adjust the JMC students in recognised medical colleges as the apex court had done in the case of the Independent Medical College, Faisalabad. They said that 170 students could easily be adjusted in Khyber, Swat and Ayub medical colleges.