QUETTA: Three students who went on hunger strike until death, along with other protesting medical college students, were shifted to hospital late on Monday after their health deteriorated.

The male and female students of three new medical colleges, in Khuzdar, Turbat and Loralai, were protesting against a decision of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) about taking fresh tests for registration with the PMC for the last three months.

Around 600 students of these colleges had been studying for three years when these medical colleges were made functional, but the Pakistan Medical Commission gave approval to these colleges only a few months ago with the efforts of the provincial government and support of senior army officials of the Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences.

However, the PMC put the condition that these 600 students enrol with the commission after taking a fresh test and only those would be registered who pass the test.

The students who opposed the PMC condition were protesting for the last three months and had set up a camp in front of the Quetta Press Club.

A group of five students went on hunger strike until death two days ago. “The condition of students deteriorated late on Monday evening who were shifted to Civil Hospital,” Abdul Qayyum, a leader of Students Alliance, told Dawn, adding that more students were ready for hunger strike.

He said that PMC wanted to destroy the future of these students who have completed their three years in medical colleges.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has taken notice of the situation and said that he would take up the matter with the federal government and PMC. “I will not allow anyone to destroy the future of these medical students.”

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2022