Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will host the rescheduled Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) on November 24, following a high court ruling that invalidated the previous exam held in September. Over 17,000 students have registered for the upcoming retest.

The original MDCAT, administered by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), faced legal challenges after students raised concerns about its fairness and adherence to protocols. Last month, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared the September test invalid, responding to a petition filed by six students, including Ammar Naeem, Shahzaib Wazir, and Saba Iman.

The petition, which named key stakeholders such as the federal government, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), SZABMU’s Vice-Chancellor, and the National Medical and Dental Board Chairman, alleged several irregularities. Among the issues highlighted were 26-27 questions that were reportedly out of the syllabus and the improper collection of test papers after the exam, which violated established protocols.

Students and parents also staged peaceful protests, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the examination process. Their demands included the annulment of the flawed MDCAT and a fair retest to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates.

The upcoming retest aims to address these grievances and restore confidence in the MDCAT as a gateway to medical and dental colleges across the country.