Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Lahore High Court Suspends Orders Affecting Afghan Medical Students
A court in Lahore has temporarily stopped orders affecting Afghan medical students in Pakistan.
The orders had told some students to return to Afghanistan.
Thirteen students asked the court for help after they said they were removed from their colleges and hostels.
The judge said they could keep studying for now.
They can also take exams and return to their hostels.
The medical council said national security was part of the issue.
The students’ lawyer said their basic rights had been violated.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office says students with valid visas and valid degree programs can stay and finish school.
The court will hear more arguments on September 18.
The Lahore High Court suspended Pakistan Medical and Dental Council orders directing Afghan medical students to return to Afghanistan.
The ruling followed petitions from 13 students who said they were removed from colleges and hostels without a proper hearing.
The court allowed the students to continue studying, take examinations and return to their hostels.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council argued that national security was involved, while the students’ lawyer cited education, life and dignity rights.
The case comes amid Pakistan’s broader campaign to repatriate undocumented Afghans, while the Foreign Office says students with valid visas may complete their education.
- Who
- The Lahore High Court, 13 Afghan medical students, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and Pakistan’s Foreign Office are involved.
- What
- The court suspended two Pakistan Medical and Dental Council directives and allowed the affected students to continue their education.
- When
- The order was issued on Friday; the directives were dated July 31 and September 1, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 18.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Afghan students at medical institutions in Lahore, Pakistan.
- Why
- The students challenged their removal from colleges and hostels, alleging violations of their rights, while the medical council cited national security concerns.
Students’ Rights Position
Regulatory and Security Position
Legality of the orders
Students’ Rights Position
The students’ lawyer argued that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council exceeded its legal powers and violated fundamental rights to education, life and dignity.
Regulatory and Security Position
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council opposed suspending the directives and argued that the matter involved national security.
Who may remain in Pakistan
Students’ Rights Position
The petitioners asked the court to declare the directives illegal and unconstitutional and said affected students should be allowed to continue their studies.
Regulatory and Security Position
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said there was no decision to send all Afghan students back, but said students must be enrolled in valid degree programs and hold valid visas.
Scale of the impact
Students’ Rights Position
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said around 100 Afghan medical and dental students in Lahore could be affected, including 20 to 40 women.
Regulatory and Security Position
The Foreign Office maintained that students meeting the valid-program and valid-visa conditions could remain, while referring questions about the specific orders to the medical regulator.
- Court
- Lahore High Court
- Students
- 13 Afghan medical students, including seven women and six men
- Suspended directives
- Pakistan Medical and Dental Council orders dated July 31 and September 1
- Court protections
- Students may continue studying, take examinations and return to hostels
- Next hearing
- September 18
- Scholarship context
- Around 350 Afghan students were welcomed to Pakistan under the Allama Iqbal Scholarship Programme in July 2025
- Repatriation figures
- More than 1.15 million Afghans were deported or repatriated from Pakistan in 2025, according to figures cited in the report