LAHORE – The Lahore High court on Monday ordered the University of Health Sciences to keep holding the results of Medical & Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) 2017 while seeking a report of an inquiry conducted on the directions of the Punjab government into the alleged paper leak.

Justice Shahid Waheed heard the petitions filed by a group of students who alleged that the MDCAT paper held on August 20 was leaked ahead of time on social media thus depriving students of a level playing field.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that a teacher at private college/academy in connivance with the authorities at UHS uploaded the paper and also confessed on his Facebook account to selling the paper to a number of students for Rs50,000 each.

The petitioners contended that UHS should hold the MDCAT exam afresh as thousands of other students would suffer otherwise.

On the other hand, counsel for the UHS said the allegation regarding the leaking of the question paper had not been proved.

“Social media’s posts relied upon by the petitioners happened to be uploaded after holding of the test,” he argued.

A provincial law officer while substantiating UHS’ counsel expressed that an inquiry committee formed by the government also found no merits in the allegations of the paper’s leak.

When asked about the said inquiry report, he said it had been submitted to the chief minister.

At this, the judge adjourned the hearing till September 25 and directed the law officer to present the report.

MDCAT Paper Leak

The news of MDCAT paper leak spread like wildfire on social media after August 20 when some of the users shared pictures of the paper.

The allegation that the paper which decides who would be becoming a doctor or dental surgeon became mainstream when students moved Lahore High Court seeking an inquiry.

At that time, UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Junaid Sarfraz Khan rubbished such rumors that the entry test paper was leaked.

According to UHS spokesman, it was just a hoax by a Facebook page named ‘Ya mbbs hai mamu’ that claimed leakage of paper.

The UHS head also moved FIA to track the hoaxer who according to him dented the credibility of the institute.

More than 65,000 candidates including 41,000 female students appeared for the Punjab Medical & Dental Colleges’ Admission Test (MDCAT).

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) had deputed around 5,500 invigilators and around 1,000 superintendents and deputy superintendents.

The test was held simultaneously at 28 centres established in 13 cities – Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, DG Khan and Hassan Abdal, The Nation reported.

This year, the candidates are competing for 3405 MBBS seats in 17 public sector medical colleges and 216 BDS seats in three public dental colleges of the province. Besides, there are 2590 MBBS seats available in 21 private medical colleges and 555 BDS seats in nine private dental colleges affiliated with the university.