PESHAWAR, Sept 15: Students of a private medical college staged a rally in front of the press club here on Saturday, demanding admission to recognised medical colleges. They also called for action against their college administration.

The students of the Jinnah Medical College raised slogans against the college administration and chairman Mohammad Ishaq. They said they had paid huge admission fees to the college, which was yet to be recognised by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

Holding placards and banners, they called upon the chief justice, the president and other authorities to take notice of the matter. They said they could not continue their studies in the college and demanded that they be adjusted in recognised medical colleges.

The students, flanked by activists of a human rights organisation, also blocked the Sher Shah Suri Road, but the press club administration and police later persuaded them to open the road. They later marched towards the Governor House but were stopped from entering the premises.

Talking to journalists, Kamran, a student, said they had passed first and second term examinations given by the University of Peshawar, but the third-year result was yet to be announced due to non-recognition of the college by the PMDC.

He said though they had been promoted to the fourth year they were uncertain about their future. He said more than 170 students of the college were suffering because of a corrupt person who was playing with the future of students.

Wajid, a first year student, said students and their parents had been kept in the dark by the administration about the college’s recognition. He said a student paid Rs300,000 a year to the college.

He said it was the responsibility of the government to recover their fees from the college chairman. He said they should be allowed to appear in the next examinations as students of recognised colleges.

The students vowed to continue their struggle till they were adjusted in recognised colleges.