Lahore Court Blocks Expulsion of Afghan Medical Students

On September 18, a Lahore High Court judge, Justice Khalid Ishaq, issued a stay order preventing the expulsion of over a hundred Afghan medical students from their colleges and universities in Pakistan. This decision came after the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) instructed academic institutions to expel Afghan nationals, stating that no facilitation for them was allowed for the current academic session.

The PMDC's directive indicated that Afghan students previously enrolled in medical or dental programs must return to Afghanistan. Mubin Ulfati, a final-year medical student, expressed relief at the court's decision, emphasizing the importance of education as a fundamental right.

The court's next hearing date has not been set. This legal battle occurs amid deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, leading to significant expulsions of Afghans from Pakistan.

Human rights organizations have condemned the PMDC's actions as discriminatory.