Chairman Pakistan Insani Haqook Party (Pakistan Human Rights Party), Dr. Khalid Aftab Sulehri has expressed serious concerns about the prevailing Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) scandal which has sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s academic community. Allegations of cheating, paper leaks, and discrepancies in the difficulty level of exams across various provinces have sparked outrage, with students and their families demanding accountability. The reports of widespread malpractice surfaced, including news of organized cheating during the MDCAT exam held in Quetta. Additionally, students have claimed that some exam questions were either incorrectly formulated or not part of the syllabus. Many students have voiced their frustration over the inconsistency in the exam papers’ difficulty across different regions.

Dr. Khalid Aftab Sulehri on Tuesday held meeting with a group of MDCAT candidates at Crown Hotel in Islamabad’s Blue Area, where he listened to their complaints and demands. The students outlined several key requests aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in the examination process: Provision of Question Papers: Students should be given access to their question papers at the end of the exam to allow them to assess the content for fairness. Updated Question Papers Online: All versions of the question paper booklets (of various colors) should be uploaded on the official website. Corrected Answer Key: A revised and accurate answer key, corresponding to the question papers, should be made available. Feedback Mechanism: A feedback form should be introduced for students and stakeholders to share their observations and concerns. Grace Marks for Errors: Any questions found to be incorrect or outside the syllabus should result in grace marks being awarded.

Right to Challenge Results: Students should have the right to dispute and request a review of their exam papers. Prevention of Paper Leaks: Steps must be taken to stop the unauthorized distribution of test papers before the exam day. Dr. Khalid Aftab Sulehri assured the students and their parents that the Pakistan Human Rights Party will take the matter to the Islamabad High Court. He committed to pursuing all legal avenues to have the exam reconducted under fair and transparent conditions. Meanwhile, students have also taken their protest to the streets, gathering outside the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) to demand justice. The ongoing protest reflects the growing frustration among the student body and their calls for an overhaul of the examination system.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan