ISLAMABAD: A number of Pakistani female students, who were expelled from medical colleges in Afghanistan, on Wednesday gathered outside the National Press Club (NPC) and demanded admission in Pakistani colleges.

The female students at medical colleges and universities in Afghanistan have left the country after the Taliban-led government declared that the women were not allowed to seek higher education in the country.

However, Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) does not seem to own the students as majority of them even did not clear the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test and got the admission in Afghanistan without seeking permission or even informing the PMC.

Students, carrying placards and banners inscribed with appeals to prime minister and other dignitaries, seeking admission in Pakistani universities.

They said that female students could not continue their education as Taliban government had banned female education in Afghanistan.

Medical students demanded migration to Pakistani medical colleges because otherwise they will not be able to complete their education and their future will be ruined.

They also urged Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice and get them enrolled in the public sector medical colleges.

According to media reports last year the Taliban-led government abruptly banned female students from going to universities due to which around 110 female Pakistani medical students, currently enrolled in different Afghan universities, also suffered. Female students have also shared their videos on social media to highlight their issue, stating that their exams were set to be held in December 2022 but they were considered ‘fail’ for not appearing in them.

PMC Vice President Dr Khursheed Ahmed said that it was a normal exercise that a number of students, after failing to clear MDCAT and in some cases even without appearing in MDCAT, get admissions in a number of countries including Afghanistan, China, etc.

“They do not seek any permission from the PMC as they get admissions in medical colleges [abroad] easily. So we are not aware of the actual number of such students. “However, those students who have completed their education can be considered for National Examination Board (NEB),” he said.

NEB is held to analyse that if a student got proper education and he/she would not be a threat to patients if started clinical practice.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2023