Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) on Thursday vowed to take strict regulatory action against the faculty and administration of Muhammad Medical College, Mirpurkhas, if found guilty in connection with the tragic death of a third-year medical student, Fahmeeda Laghari, amid allegations of harassment.
Fahmeeda Laghari, a third-year MBBS student of Muhammad Medical College—now part of Ibne Sina University—reportedly died by suicide at her residence in Mirpurkhas earlier this week.
According to her family, she allegedly took her own life after enduring harassment by a college professor. The incident triggered widespread outrage and prompted the Government of Sindh to order a high-level inquiry to ascertain the facts and fix responsibility.
In an official statement, PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj expressed deep sorrow and grave concern over the incident, strongly condemning the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. He termed the loss of a young medical student under such distressing circumstances as deeply alarming and unacceptable.
Welcoming the inquiry initiated by the Sindh government, he emphasized that the investigation must be thorough, transparent, and impartial. He stressed that the findings should be shared with the PM&DC to enable the council to initiate regulatory and disciplinary proceedings.
“The PM&DC will take strict action against any faculty member or institution found responsible, in accordance with its rules and regulations,” he said.
Reiterating a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, Prof. Rizwan Taj noted that the council had already directed all medical and dental colleges last year to constitute functional anti-harassment committees to ensure timely redressal of complaints and safeguard the mental well-being of students and healthcare trainees.
He added that students whose grievances are not addressed at the institutional level could directly approach the PM&DC Harassment Committee for appropriate action.
Prof. Taj warned that any failure to implement these directives or to provide a safe academic environment would constitute a violation of PM&DC regulations and ethical standards. The establishment of anti-harassment committees, he said, was not a mere formality but a critical safeguard for protecting students.
The PM&DC president further stated that the council had sought a complete record of the case, including details of the incident, findings of inquiry committees constituted by the institution and the government, and remedial measures undertaken by the college. Upon receipt of the report, the matter would be referred to the PM&DC Disciplinary Committee for appropriate action against those found responsible.
He emphasized that all medical and dental institutions are obligated to provide a safe, respectful, and supportive academic environment. Any form of harassment, intimidation, or misconduct, he said, is a clear violation of professional ethics and regulatory requirements.
Extending condolences to the bereaved family, the PM&DC urged medical institutions across the country to strictly adhere to ethical standards and regulatory directives to prevent such incidents in the future.
Prof. Rizwan Taj reaffirmed that the safety, dignity, and mental well-being of students remain the council’s top priority, adding that no compromise would be tolerated in this regard.
Ends