Islamabad, Dec 19: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) to reconduct the MDCAT examination within two weeks for medical college admissions.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq emphasized the need to protect students’ futures and consider all relevant factors, as reported by Express News. Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz advised students to focus on their studies rather than these issues.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, heard the university’s appeal against the single bench’s decision to retake the MDCAT exam.
The university’s counsel informed the court that six grace marks were awarded to all candidates, and the single bench had instructed the PMDC to review and publish the results and questionnaire, which had been done. Islamabad has 150 medical seats, divided into 50 for medical and 100 for dental colleges.
Chief Justice Farooq questioned why complaints about 31 questions resulted in the review of only 25. PMDC’s counsel clarified that the 25 questions were flagged after two separate evaluations.
The Chief Justice further inquired about the basis for passing criteria, to which the university registrar explained that 50% was the global standard.
The court noted that excluding 18 of the 200 questions would leave 182, setting the passing marks at 90. PMDC’s lawyer mentioned that complaints arose when MDCAT was retaken in Sindh due to increased difficulty.
The court ordered the exam to be reconducted within two weeks without delay.
Last Sunday, the MDCAT 2024 was retaken across Sindh as per court directives. Organized by IBA Sukkur, the test was held simultaneously in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, and Sukkur, with over 38,000 candidates, including 12,000 from Karachi, competing for 854 seats. Parents expressed frustration over a two-hour delay, though candidates appreciated the improved arrangements and the absence of paper leaks.
Strict security measures were enforced, including Section 144 around examination centres. Traffic police managed congestion on University Road, while parents parked carelessly near the centres. At NED University and the University of Karachi, strict protocols ensured the smooth flow of candidates.
IBA Sukkur announced the interim results for the MDCAT 2024 retake in Sindh. Candidates can view their scores on the STS website and submit objections until 5 PM on December 17, 2024, via email.
The exam, held on December 8, was conducted across six cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, and Sukkur, with over 38,000 participants.
As per the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the minimum score requirement for MBBS is 55%, while for BDS, it is 50%. Candidate data for the test was provided by the PMDC.
