SMBBMU formally Declares End to Evening Classes
Benazir Bhutto Medical University
Larkana: The Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) on Friday finally decided to wind up the MBBS evening classes at the Chandka Medical College (CMC) it had started in defiance of the relevant rules of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and vowed to continue with it "come what may".
The decision was announced after an emergency meeting, chaired by SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Akbar Haidar Soomro, which was attended by CMC Principal Prof Dr Asadullah Mahar, SMBBMU Registrar Dr Amanullah Jokhio, Admissions Director Dr Abdul Waheed Memon, Coordinator for evening programme Dr Abdul Rasheed Memon and others.
During long deliberations, the meeting discussed the situation arising out of an order issued by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah asking the SMBBMU to strictly follow the PMDC rules in this regard.
The order also warned the university administration of serious legal consequences if it remained adamant.
According to a press statement issued by SMBBMU spokesman Dr Memon, the meeting in very clear terms declared that it had implemented the government order and closed the evening classes.
The meeting also decided to start evening OPDs at the CMC hospital under the auspices of the SMBBMU for providing free health facilities to the poor. An assistant professor would be posted at the evening OPDs, which would initially be started at the medicine and surgery sections, Dr Memon said, adding that the service at other sections would be started gradually.
He said Prof Mahar had been asked to submit his report on the proposal within a week.
Prior to the opening of evening classes, the SMBBMU vice chancellor had acquired the services of professors and other staff from the CMC and the Ghulam Mohammed Mahar Medical College (GMMMC), Sukkur. Certain ad hoc appointments of 'trainee' were also made to facilitate the evening programme.
When asked what will be the fate of that staff, Dr Memon said that they would now be repatriated to their original departments. Prof Amar Gurbakhshani (pharmacology), Prof Dr K. Das (surgery) and Dr Abdul Rasheed Shaikh (urology) from the GMMMC, Dr Shahid Soomro (surgery) and Prof Zaffar Pirzado (bio-chemistry) were among those who were transferred and assigned their jobs in the evening courses.
Dr Memon said that Prof Dr Gurbakhshani, Prof Pirzado and Dr Soomro would be sent back to their original postings in the CMC but a decision about the other faculty members would be taken later.
In reply to a question, Dr Memon said that as against the 100 seats which were available in the evening classes only 71 candidates had sought admission and 65 of them deposited the fee, Rs70,000, for the first year. For 25 self-financing scheme seats, only seven candidates had deposited the fee, Rs600,000, for the one-year term in the shape of demand draft. About refunding the fees, the spokesman said they could seek a refund any time and would be obliged accordingly. Dawn.
