ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has ordered the government to take immediate steps to restore the functioning of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council within two weeks.
The high court had termed the decision of the government to dissolve the regulatory authority null and void on February 11 during a hearing. On the most recent hearing on March 11, the court reviewed the progress on the verdict. Health Secretary, Dr Syed Tauqeer Hussain informed the court that a letter has been written to the law ministry and the verdict will soon be implemented. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has declared Hussain responsible for implementing this verdict.
The disagreement between the authority and the government is causing inconvenience to medical professionals. Dr Ali Nawaz expressed his distress saying that he was applying abroad for a job and now the department is nonfunctional.
The government had dissolved the PMDC after replacing it with Pakistan Medical after the issuance of a presidential ordinance. More than 200 employees of the Council after the promulgation of the Pakistan Medical Commission were sacked who sought legal assistance for the restoration of the regulatory body.
