Section 144 imposed at MDCAT centres today

The Sindh Home Department has issued a notification to impose Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) around the educational institutes where the Medical & Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) will take place on Sunday (today).

The notification states that the health department had requested necessary security arrangements and the enforcement of Sections 144 at seven MDCAT centres.

The identified centres are the University of Karachi; the NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi; the Public Health School, Hyderabad; the Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro; Quaid-e-Azam University of Engineering, Science & Technology, Shaheed Benazirabad; Police Training School, Larkana; and the IBA Public School, Sukkur.

The notification said the provincial government sees the need to take the necessary measures to hold MDCAT peacefully and transparently, and to maintain the centres’ sanctity during the test.

Exercising the powers conferred under Section 144(6) of the CrPC, the government declared the premises of the above-mentioned centres as restricted areas for the general public, except the candidates bearing valid admit cards and slips, and the staff on duty.

The government also prohibited the presence of mobile phones, other digital devices, ladies’ purses and reading material on the premises, and the movement of general traffic in the surroundings of the centres during the test hours.

In pursuance of Section 195(i)(a) of the CrPC, the station house officers concerned have been authorised to register complaints under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code in writing against those who violate Section 144.