• Standing Committee on National Health Services asks Sindh govt, PMDC to investigate result pattern and examine possibility of malpractice
• JI demands transparent forensic review of exam arrangements, results and merit lists
• PPP leader Nasir Shah says matter should be investigated if any student subjected to injustice

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Showing dissatisfaction with the result of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) in Sindh, the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services has directed the Sindh government to ensure a high-powered probe into “anomalies” in the result.

The MDCAT was conducted on Sept 20 in Sindh by SIBA Testing Services, which announced the results on Sept 28. According to the results, no candidates from Karachi Division were among the top 20 students who passed the exam.

The results triggered a social media backlash, and later some opposition parties also voiced concerns and demanded a probe.

On Wednesday, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and provincial minister said if any child or student had been subjected to injustice, the matter should be investigated, and the facts brought to light.

In Islamabad, Standing Committee on Health Chairman Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also directed the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) president to constitute a committee and personally visit Sindh. If the investigation proved malpractice or irregularities, it would be considered ordering the re-conduct of the MDCAT, he said.

Talking to Dawn, Senator Chishti said that he was shocked to hear about the results of the MDCAT in Sindh.

“Top 20 positions have been secured by candidates from Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar. On the other hand, candidates from Karachi have not secured top positions; rather, a large number of candidates from Karachi could not secure passing marks,” he said.

He added that the committee had directed the Sindh government to conduct a high-powered probe into the anomalies and share its findings with the Senate committee.

“We have received several complaints from candidates, which cannot be ignored and there is a need for a comprehensive inquiry to determine whether there were any irregularities in the examination process or results,” he said.

The senator also directed the PMDC president to form a committee to visit different MDCAT centres in Sindh and examine the results and examination procedures.

The inquiry committee would assess the performance of candidates at individual examination centres, including the number and percentage of successful candidates, and determine whether there were any unusual variations in results between centres.

The committee would also examine whether any candidate had received an unfair advantage through any illegal activity or procedural irregularity, Senator Chishti said. He also directed that an inquiry report be submitted at the earliest so that the authorities could determine the appropriate course of action on the basis of evidence.

He said if the investigation proved malpractice or other irregularities, the authorities would consider ordering a re-conduct of the MDCAT. He pointed out that examinations had been conducted again in the past when serious concerns had emerged regarding the integrity of the process.

JI raises serious concerns

The Karachi chapter of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Wednesday demanded an independent inquiry into the conduct and results of the MDCAT 2026 examination in Sindh, alleging serious administrative irregularities and discrimination against candidates from Karachi.

Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters, Idara Noor-i-Haq, JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan said the examination process and subsequent results had raised “serious concerns” and called for a transparent forensic review of the examination arrangements, results and merit lists.

He said 10,964 candidates appeared for the MDCAT in Karachi on Sept 20, but only two examination centres — NED University and Dow University — were established for them. The reporting time was 6:30am, while candidates faced difficulties because of transportation and hot weather. He also cited complaints regarding ventilation at the examination centres.

“The entire MDCAT process should be independently investigated, and an empowered inquiry committee should be constituted,” Mr Zafar said, demanding that Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho explain what measures had been taken to address the concerns of students from Karachi.

The JI leader questioned the setting up of examination centres, saying that Lahore had six centres for roughly the same number of candidates, while Peshawar had 19 centres for around 16,000 candidates. He said more than 138,000 candidates had registered for the MDCAT across Pakistan.

According to the results cited by him, no candidate from Karachi appeared among Sindh’s top 20 while 18 Karachi candidates were among the top 100. Mr Zafar said the unusual pattern warranted a transparent investigation rather than assumptions about the reasons for the results.

He also criticised Sindh’s examination system, saying the provincial government had weakened the traditional board system by relying on testing authorities, creating continuing difficulties for students and parents.

The JI Karachi, he announced, would establish a public-aid desk to guide affected students.

Nasir Shah responds

In his media interaction in Karachi on Wednesday, PPP leader and Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Shah said there should be no objection if a child from Thar secured the first position, adding that children from Karachi were also their children and every child in Sindh should be provided equal opportunities to progress.

He said that if any child or student had been subjected to injustice, the matter should be investigated and the facts brought to light, stressing that merit, transparency and equal treatment of all children were essential in educational matters.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026