LAHORE, Oct 01 (DNA): The Punjab government revised its admission policy
for public sector medical and dental colleges within the province.

Notably, the extra 20 marks previously granted to Hafiz-e-Quran
candidates will be removed from the merit calculation in the upcoming
admission season.

As per the Punjab Health Department, this year, additional marks for
Hafiz -e-Quran candidates have been eliminated based on PMDC’s decision.

The body took it after a six-member bench gave a verdict in this regard.

The modified policy, which excludes these extra 20 marks, will apply to
this year’s admissions. Previously, 20 marks had been allocated in the
FSC score for Hafiz-e-Quran candidates.

It is to be noted that the Supreme Court of Pakistan in April disposed
of a suo motu case about grant of additional 20 marks to a Hafiz-e-Quran
student while admitting him/her to an MBBS/BDS degree programme.

A six-member bench, headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and comprising
Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Mazahar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali
Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, issued the
ruling minutes after a brief hearing in the case.

During the hearing, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council informed the
bench that it was not awarding additional marks at the time when the suo
motu notice was taken. Justice Akhtar remarked: “It means the suo motu
case has become ineffective.”