Anwar Zada Gulyar
BAJAUR: The admission process for students from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) seeking admission to medical colleges has taken a serious turn after the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) rejected the admission nomination list issued on July 8, 2026, citing the expiry of the prescribed deadline. The decision has created uncertainty over the academic future of dozens of students.
According to Muhammad Shabib, a representative of the affected students, the delay in submitting the nomination list was not caused by any negligence or fault on the part of the students. He said the situation arose because the relevant departments, particularly the Home and Tribal Affairs Department and concerned medical colleges, failed to provide details of vacant seats within the stipulated time.
The students argue that they should not be made to suffer for an administrative delay beyond their control. They said they had worked hard for years to secure admission on merit, and that rejecting the nomination list on the basis of a delay caused by government departments would amount to injustice.
The students further said that while administrative delays prevented the nomination list from being finalized within the prescribed timeframe, rejecting the list on the same grounds could jeopardize their academic careers. They fear that the decision could result in the loss of a valuable academic year for many students.
The affected students and members of the public have urged senior PMDC officials to review the matter immediately on humanitarian and legal grounds and either accept the nomination list issued on July 8 or provide an alternative solution under the applicable rules. They stressed that students should not be penalized for administrative lapses and called for protection of the right to education of deserving students from the former FATA.
