The Lahore High Court has kept suspended a Pakistan Medical and Dental Council directive that told Afghan students enrolled in medical institutions in Pakistan to return to Afghanistan.
Dawn reported that 13 Afghan students studying at institutions in Lahore have challenged the directive. The court first suspended its implementation on September 11. At the latest hearing, lawyers for the PMDC and the University of Health Sciences sought more time to file replies, and the suspension remained in place.
The case comes as United Nations human rights experts have separately raised concern about the possible removal of Afghan students. Reports citing the experts say at least 100 Afghan medical and dental students may be affected, including an estimated 20 to 40 women.
The issue is particularly consequential for women because higher education and medical training for women remain heavily restricted in Afghanistan. UN experts have urged Pakistan to assess protection risks individually and avoid returning people to situations where they could face serious harm.
The litigation is still ongoing, so the students’ final legal position has not yet been decided.