LAHORE - The Lahore High Court yesterday suspended the federal government’s policy about regulation of admissions at private medical colleges and sought a report from Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC).

Jannat Sardar Sheikh and other students, who had applied for MBBS admission in private colleges, filed the petition against the condition of MCAT for securing admission in MBBS. The petitioner’s counsel, Ashfaq Ahmad Malik contended that the PMDC issued a notification on Oct 27, 2016, which had done away with SAT-II examination for the purpose of entry into the medical colleges.

The counsel said the petitioners desired to seek admission in a private medical college that offered admission on the basis of NUMS entrance test or SAT-II test. The petitioners underwent the SAT-II test and the result was announced on Oct 27, the same day when the PMDC issued the impugned notification depriving the petitioners of seeking admission in the college.

The counsel argued that the impugned policy of the government was unconstitutional and discriminatory in nature.

He prayed the court to strike down the Oct 27 notification issued by the PMDC. Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza adjourned the hearing until Nov 29.