PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed authorities not to deport Afghan trainee doctors currently undergoing medical training in Pakistan until the next hearing.
The order was issued by a two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel while hearing petitions challenging the proposed deportation of Afghan medical trainees.
During the hearing, petitioners’ counsel Tariq Afghan Advocate told the court that the Afghan medical trainees were legally residing in Pakistan on valid visas. He said the doctors had been placed in various medical colleges under an Afghan quota and were currently undergoing specialized training at different hospitals.
The counsel argued that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had abruptly cancelled the admission of the Afghan medical trainees and directed them to return to Afghanistan immediately. Following the PMDC decision, the relevant medical colleges had also issued notices to the trainees, he said.
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The lawyer contended that the PMDC’s action violated Article 25 of the Constitution, other constitutional provisions and applicable international laws.
After hearing the arguments, the Peshawar High Court ordered that the Afghan trainee doctors must not be deported until the next hearing.
The court also issued notices to the PMDC and other relevant parties, seeking detailed responses in the case at the next hearing.
