Peshawar, September 15, 2023 – The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has taken a significant step by ordering a stay on the release of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2023 results in the wake of shocking cheating revelations. This development has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the fate of thousands of aspiring medical students across Pakistan.
Justice Arshad Ali of the PHC issued the stay order on Friday, responding to multiple petitions filed by concerned students who demanded that the MDCAT 2023 results be withheld due to the alleged widespread cheating during the examination. The court has directed relevant authorities, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief secretary, Executive Director of Education and Evaluation Testing Agency (ETEA), and the Registrar of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, to provide their responses to this critical matter.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 21, leaving students and their families in a state of suspense and anxiety.
The controversy surrounding the MDCAT 2023 exams erupted after the tests took place on September 10 in 31 cities nationwide. Shockingly, reports of “mass cheating” during the exams came to light, leading to a widespread outcry.
A staggering 180,534 students from across Pakistan participated in the MDCAT 2023 examination. However, the integrity of the test was compromised as dozens of students were apprehended for allegedly using Bluetooth devices to cheat. Notably, 10 aspiring medical students were arrested in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), while 43 candidates were taken into custody in Peshawar on similar charges of cheating.
Among those arrested in Peshawar were 20 female students, highlighting the extent of the issue. FIRs (first information reports) were filed against these candidates at police stations in Sharqi, Faqirabad, and Pahari Pura.
Despite the arrests, all the students were subsequently released on personal surety, with a court appearance scheduled for September 11.
Read more: PMDC Extends MDCAT 2023 Date to September 10
As the MDCAT 2023 results hang in the balance, the fate of thousands of medical aspirants remains uncertain. The court’s decision to halt the release of results reflects the seriousness of the cheating scandal and raises questions about the future of medical education in Pakistan. Students, their families, and education authorities alike eagerly await the court’s decision in the upcoming hearing.
