Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council on Thursday rejected reports claiming that a senior PMDC official had been arrested in a medical college admission scam, saying no officer of the Council has been detained and that only a driver is in the custody of the federal law enforcement agency.
A PMDC spokesperson said the person detained by the Federal Investigation Agency was a driver posted on general pool duty at the Council. The spokesperson added that he was a low-rank support employee with no link to admissions, registration or policy matters, and had no access to any section involved in decision making.
The Council said that as soon as complaints of alleged misconduct surfaced, a departmental inquiry was launched without delay. The employee was suspended on charges of misconduct and his salary was stopped under service rules.
The spokesperson said PMDC initially learned of the arrest from media reports, which were later confirmed by the FIA. The Council said it is fully cooperating with the FIA and other authorities to ensure the law takes its course.
The spokesperson said PMDC follows a zero tolerance approach to corruption, fraud or misuse of authority. The Council said it acted promptly to ensure internal accountability and extended full support to the investigating agency.
The spokesperson reiterated that PMDC has no role in the admission process of medical and dental colleges across the country, saying admissions are handled by provincial admitting universities and the Council has no involvement in the process.
The spokesperson said it was regrettable that misleading and unverified news reports attempted to damage the reputation of the national regulatory body. The Council said it continues to work with integrity and a commitment to merit, transparency and public trust in medical education and regulation.
PMDC advised students and parents not to deal with any unauthorized individual or middleman and urged them to rely only on official Council communication channels and platforms for admission-related guidance.
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