The Sindh High Court on Wednesday granted stay on publication of results for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) due to claims of irregularities in the examination process. The court appointed a committee to gather records from relevant institutions and prepare a detailed report, while also instructing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to form a team to investigate the situation.
During the hearing, presided over by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, concerns about the integrity of the MDCAT results were discussed. The Chief Secretary of Sindh and various university Vice-Chancellors attended the session to address these issues. Justice Panhwar noted the unusually high number of students scoring over 195 marks, prompting a comparison of results between Sindh and those from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Justice Amjad Sethi pointed out that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had found no evidence of paper leaks. However, the petitioner’s attorney raised concerns over more than 1,100 students obtaining 187 marks, questioning the exam’s credibility.
In response, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah stated they would compare scores with those from KP and Punjab once the data was available.
The court highlighted potential irregularities, with Justice Panhwar suggesting that the allegations indicated possible misconduct. He criticized media portrayals of the situation and emphasized the need for thorough investigations. Consequently, a three-member committee, led by the Secretary of Religious Affairs, was formed to probe the claims.
The court mandated that the MDCAT results be withheld until the investigation concluded.
After the hearing, MQM leader Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan spoke to the press, revealing that numerous students had reached out about alleged injustices. He claimed that each student had paid approximately Rs 8,000 to Dow University, with over Rs 70 million raised for medical testing.
Hassan expressed gratitude to the court for establishing two committees to look into the students’ concerns and stressed the need for answers within 15 days to ensure transparency and accountability. He raised alarm over students scoring 199 marks, suggesting a potential leak of exam papers and calling for a comprehensive investigation. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding students’ futures and vowed to hold Dow University and PMDC accountable for any misconduct.
