LAHORE – Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on Friday sought reply from the Punjab government on a petition challenging establishment of four unrecognized medical colleges in the province.
The government was already directed to file a reply but it failed to comply with court directions.
Justice Saeed observed that almost one month had already been granted to the government but it had failed to come up with its contention on the matter. “There will be hundreds of petitions in court when these medical colleges will send admissions of students and when Pakistan medical and dental council will reject them. So that the matter requires early disposal,” the judge observed.
Meanwhile, a senior lawyer, Dr Abdul Basit filed his power of attorney on behalf of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the judge adjourned hearing of the case.
Advocate Noshab A Khan filed the petition stating that the government of Punjab inaugurated four medical colleges without fulfilling basic requirements. He said it should have approved recognition of the PMDC for validation of medical qualifications.
He said the government opened these medical colleges in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan. He said there was allocation of 100 seats in each college and admissions for the academic session 2010-2011 have already been completed. The government remained oblivious despite students’ genuine concerns over not seeking recognition by the PMDC of these colleges, he said.
The petitioner said the government needed to seek PMDC’s recognition. He submitted that in these colleges the qualification will be invalid without recognition. He said the Punjab government had not bothered to apply to the PMDC for recognition till date.
For seeking PMDC recognition the government should have fulfilled the eligibility criteria including college building, qualified faculty, attached teaching hospital, fully equipped laboratory, library and hospital but the newly opened colleges lack all these basic requirements.
He added that the Supreme Court has categorically declared fake all the medical and dental colleges lacking PMDC’s recognition. He prayed the court to declare the opening of these colleges as illegal and having no legal authority. He also prayed the court to stay the functioning of the colleges till final disposal of the petition.
LHC allows Indian spy’s lawyer to meet his client: The Lahore High Court on Friday allowed the lawyer of an Indian spy Sarbajit Singh to meet him in Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Awais has filed the petition seeking permission to meet Sarbajit Singh waiting for his execution. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that he has been a legal counsel of Sarbajit Singh and had also visited his family in India. He said he required to meet his client in jail as he was contesting his case but the jail authorities did not allow him.
He requested the court to issue directions for jail administration to allow him meeting with Sarbajit Singh. After hearing the arguments, the court accepted his petition and allowed him to meet his client in jail.
