The Supreme Court on Thursday holding a su muto proceedings about fee structure and admission criteria in private medical colleges sought complete record of three medical colleges including Sharif Medical and Dental College owned by Nawaz Sharif by January 06.
Chief Justice Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar also directed owners of Central Park Medical College and Amna Inayat Medical College to appear in person along with affidavits and details about fee structure, admission criteria and facilities being provided to the medical students.
As the proceedings commenced, Punjab Governor's son Asif Rajwana appeared before the court and said that he apologized over his phone to the lawyer lady for admission of medical student in a local medical college. The CJP snubbing Rajwana said, "What did you want to say her on phone?
And "How did you dare to interfere into a court matter?" The bench rejected his oral apology and directed him to submit written apology. The court also accepted unconditional apology of Faisalabad Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Fareed Zafar.
Meantime, Sharif Medial City Principal Brigadier Zafar Ahmad (r) appeared before the bench but the Chief Justice asked him that why they couldn't appear before the court. "I called the owner and why he couldn't come here," the CJP remarked. When the court asked him that who was the owner of the Sharif Medical College he replied that it was a trust and Nawaz Sharif was the chairman. On it, the CJP remarked that "Why couldn't he come? He himself should have appeared before the court," CJP observed.
Answering a question about the fee being charged from the students at the college, the principal said they had been charging Rs 875,000. At this, the CJP asked him why they had been charging extra. The bench directed him to fill the performa, details about bank accounts and expenditure incurred on running it. "We will not allow money become hurdle in the way of intelligent children' education," the CJP remarked.
Meanwhile, a person in the courtroom suddenly broke into tears and said that her daughter fulfilled the merit but they couldn't afford the fee. He said "I hardly managed Rs 500,000 for the fee of my daughter and couldn't pay the rest of the amount," he pleaded. Justice Nisar said that they had been hearing the fee matter and hopefully there would be a way for the student. He remarked otherwise he would pay from his own pocket.
A PMDC representative told the court that there was five percent scholarship quota for the brilliant students but they never received any single application from the private colleges for scholarship award. Chief Secretary Punjab said that Punjab Endowment Fund was established for the financial support of intelligent and deserving students. On it, the bench directed him to check that to what extend the fund could support the deserving students.