ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench issued notices to the University of Health Sciences (UHS) and the PMDC along with various medical colleges on a writ petition filed by a group of medical students from different institutions in the Rawalpindi region.

The students contended that their academic performance was adversely affected by the recent India-Pakistan war.

The supplementary examination for the 2nd professional year was scheduled on May 6, 9 and 13. The students performed reasonably well in the first paper, but on May 8, the war broke out.

Their second paper was cancelled, colleges and hostels were closed, and students were evacuated. In these chaotic circumstances, many of them spent their days commuting in overcrowded public transport. Travel routes were clogged and it became extremely difficult for them to reach their homes.

After the war ended on May 10, they had to rush back, and barely managed to return to their hostels before the third supplementary exam was conducted. Hundreds of students failed that paper and the subsequent rescheduled exam.

Although UHS regulations provide for a second/special supplementary exam in such exceptional circumstances, the authorities did not respond to the students’ repeated representations.

The principals of Akhtar Saeed Medical College and Allama Iqbal Medical College wrote letters to the UHS in support of the students, but no heed was paid, compelling the students to approach the court.

The court heard the counsel for the petitioners Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, issued notices and directed the government to file a reply within three days, scheduling the next hearing for Monday.

During the proceedings, Justice Jawad Hassan inquired whether there was any previous precedent on the subject. Barrister Gilani submitted that this was an entirely novel situation with no direct judicial precedent.

However, reliance was placed on the judgement of the Sindh High Court reported as Mohammad Husaain and Another v. province of Sindh and others (2014), authored by then-Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2025