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Thursday March 28, 2024

Court seeks record of four medical colleges

By our correspondents
March 23, 2016

LAHORE

The Supreme Court on Tuesday showed displeasure over setting up of four medical colleges in violation of rules and sought an explanation from Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). 

Hearing a suo motu case about deteriorating condition of health sector, at Lahore registry, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that the PMDC was itself responsible for the sorry state of affairs in the health and medical education sectors. 

Deputy Attorney General Zakriya Sheikh told the bench that 14 medical colleges of Lahore had submitted their reports in compliance with the court order. He pointed out that the PMDC allowed establishment of four more medical colleges in violation of rules. The law officer pointed out the rules required a teaching college to maintain a hospital with capacity of 500 beds.

However, this mandatory condition was ignored by the PMDC while allowing establishment of Sialkot Medical College, Fauji Foundation Medical College, HBS medical college Islamabad and Akhtar Saeed Medical College.

Justice Nisar regretted that authorities at PMDC were involved in establishment of fake medical colleges. The bench directed the law officer to ensure appearance of the council’s officials concerned on next hearing with complete record of the medical colleges approved in violation of rules.

The bench observed that a local commission could be formed for the inspection of all medical colleges. Further hearing was adjourned till March 25.

Model Town case: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday recorded statements of three eye-witnesses in Model Town case who submitted that a DIG and SP ordered police to open fire at the gate of Idara Minhajul Quran. 

The eye-witnesses included Saeed Ahmad Bhatti, Hafiz Muhammad Razzaq and Muneer Hussain. ATC Judge Khwaja Zafar Iqbal held the proceedings on the private complaint filed by Idara Minhajul Quran seeking trial of PM, Punjab CM and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, federal ministers, IGP and others for allegedly killing 14 people and injuring 98 others in Model Town on June 17, 2014.  Recording his statement, Saeed Ahmad Bhatti said that DIG and SP who were present there at the main gate of Idara Minhajul Quran ordered police to open fire which caused violence. Many workers fell injured, he stated.

Hafiz Razzaq stated that SHO Sabzazaar police Amir Saleem opened fire outside the residence of Dr Tahirul Qadri and killed Ghulam Rasool. Munir Hussain stated that trainee ASIs Hassan Ali and Burhan opened fire and injured many workers when SP security ordered them to fire. Sabzazaar police station’s former SHO Amir Saleem also appeared before the court. Two eye-witnesses had already recorded their statements.  After recording statements of the witnesses, the judge adjourned further hearing for tomorrow (Thursday).