ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday restrained the authorities from expelling an Afghan doctor from Pakistan and issued a stay order against the implementation of a Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) notification affecting his ongoing medical training.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard a petition filed by a Pakistani woman seeking protection for the medical training of her Afghan husband, Dr Imaduddin.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the PMDC’s July 31, 2026 notification could not be applied retrospectively to doctors who were already enrolled in and undergoing approved training.
He told the court that Dr Imaduddin’s urology training had already been extended by the competent authority until February 27, 2027.
“The petitioner has no objection to any future policy, but doctors already undergoing training should be allowed to complete their programmes,” the counsel argued.
He further submitted that terminating the doctor’s training without prior notice or an opportunity of hearing could severely affect the family’s livelihood and family life.
The petition names the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, PMDC and the principal of Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, as respondents.
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The petitioner, Mehar Zahoor, approached the IHC to protect her Afghan husband’s ongoing urology training in Pakistan.
The IHC’s order comes days after the Lahore High Court (LHC) stayed the implementation of PMDC notifications seeking the expulsion of Afghan students from medical and dental colleges.
Justice Khalid Ishaq heard a petition filed by 30 Afghan students, including Syed Mobeen Ulfati, challenging PMDC notifications issued on July 31 and September 1.
The LHC issued notices to the federal government, PMDC and other respondents and sought their replies by September 18.
During the hearing, the PMDC counsel told the court that the visas of the students facing expulsion were no longer valid.
Justice Ishaq questioned how the students had been admitted to the institutions if their visas were not valid.
The petitioners contended that the PMDC notifications ordering their expulsion were unlawful and asked the court to declare them void.
Earlier, the PMDC had barred the admission, placement and transfer of Afghan nationals to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan until further orders.
In a letter addressed to principals, deans and heads of medical and dental colleges, the council directed all public and private medical and dental institutions to comply with its instructions.
