LAHORE, 11 September 2026 (Kamran Raja): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday barred all medical colleges in Punjab from expelling Afghan medical students amid petitions challenging their removal. Justice Khalid Ishaq heard petitions filed by more than 30 Afghan students against their expulsion from medical colleges across the province. During the hearing, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) lawyer argued that the students did not possess the required documents, maintaining that no one could stay in a country without a valid visa. Justice Ishaq questioned how the students had been granted education visas when they were admitted to medical colleges and also questioned the decision to send them back after four years of medical education. He observed that the students should have been given an opportunity to be heard before any decision was taken against them. The PM&DC lawyer cited state security concerns and visa requirements in the United States, but Justice Khalid Ishaq rejected the state security argument and remarked that the students could be sent back after completing their medical education. The court directed that no medical college would expel the students or cancel their examination papers and adjourned further proceedings until next Friday. The development came a day after the PM&DC clarified that there was no nationality-based prohibition on medical education in Pakistan. The council said its ongoing review of Afghan medical students was related to regulatory compliance and documentation rather than discrimination against any nationality. According to the PM&DC, more than 200 Afghan students were studying medicine in Pakistan, while only 22 were currently registered with the council. Of these, 14 had completed their degree programmes and eight were expected to graduate next year. The council said completion of a medical degree did not automatically grant the right to remain in Pakistan for employment or medical practice, adding that those seeking to practise in the country must fulfil the applicable licensing and registration requirements. The PM&DC said the verification process for the remaining 176 students was still underway and that the figure was subject to final confirmation. It added that students who were not registered with the council and did not possess the required permissions under the applicable framework could not be treated as lawfully enrolled foreign medical students within Pakistan’s regulated medical education system.