KARACHI, May 25: The SMC students who called off their hunger strike outside Karachi Press Club on Saturday had to suffer disappointment on Sunday as a meeting of their representatives with the chief minister, which was promised to them by provincial minister Dr Saeeda Malik, did not take place.

“Immediate relief to the affected students is not in sight, as it appears that the high-ups in the provincial government have still not made up their minds in this regard,” One of the students said.

“The government’s apathy continues unabetted and we have been under immense mental and physical stress for the past four months. After three to five years of uninterrupted education, now they are questioning the legitimacy of the admissions of over 120 students, which is incomprehensible,” said another student.

The students were debarred from appearing for different MBBS examinations after the SMC authorities disputed their admissions. They have been protesting the belated move by the college principal and some government agencies, terming it a cruel and unjust move that will reduce them to the Intermediate level, even though they have been acquiring all the prescribed medical education and training like other students.

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, the provincial minister for women development, Dr Saeeda Malik, said the chief minister was of the view that the genuine grievances of the students should be addressed immediately.

She said though a formal meeting between the students’ delegation and the CM could not take place on Sunday, a procedural initiative in that direction was very much there.

She said the authorities had decided in principle that the matter should be considered on humanitarian grounds.

“I, along with Dr Aamir Liaquat, a member of the national assembly, received the students at the CM’s House on Sunday and discussed the issue at length,” the minister said and added that she agreed that the harsh punitive action being taken was illogical.

“While the report of the health department on the issue of “bogus” admissions at the SMC is already with the higher authorities, we have decided to take up the matter on a case-to-case basis. Provision of relief to the aggrieved students is now a procedural matter which could take time,” she said.

The minister said that a meeting between the advisor to the CM on health and the students and other government officials was likely on Monday at the office of the advisor.

It was learnt from government sources that a committee on the issue would be formed soon, which would review and take decisions on a case-to-case basis.

“A legal opinion from the department concerned also cannot be ruled out before the government decides to give any kind of amnesty,” said a health department official.

The students’ representatives said they had been asked to attend the meeting being held at the health advisor’s office on Monday.

“We have been asked to bring the original documents of all the affected students for verification,” said one of them.

The students said that Dr Saeeda and Dr Aamir Liaquat had told their delegation on Sunday at the CM’s House that they wanted to resolve the issue.