PESHAWAR, Nov 23: The chairman of the joint admission committee of public sector medical colleges on Wednesday requested the Peshawar High Court to vacate its order staying the process of admission to medical colleges, saying that as 488 students had already been admitted to different colleges in the province.

The chairman, Dr Umer Ali Khan, filed an application before the court stating that precious time of students would be wasted as classes were about to start.

A two-member bench of the high court had on Nov 18 stayed the admission process while hearing a writ petition filed by 23 students challenging the entry test conducted by the Education Testing and Evaluation Authority (ETEA).

On Wednesday, a two-member bench comprising Justice Shehzad Akber Khan and Justice Ejaz Afzal took up for hearing the application filed by the chairman, Joint Admission Committee.

Justice Shehzad Akber expressed inability to hear the petition and referred the case to the Chief Justice of the court, Justice Tariq Pervez, for fixing it before any other bench.

Justice Akber observed that his son had also appeared in the test and had qualified for admissions; therefore, it would not be appropriate for him to hear the case.

Advocate Waseemuddin Khattak appeared for the applicant (Dr Umer Ali) and contended that admissions on open merit seats had already completed and roll numbers had been assigned to students.

Mr Khattak stated that the classes had to start on Dec 1 but in the presence of the stay order it would be difficult for them to start classes. He requested the court to re-consider its earlier order.

Justice Shehzad Akber directed him to advance arguments before the bench to which the case would be sent by the chief justice.

It has been learnt that the chief justice, Justice Tariq Pervez, has now sent the case to a bench comprising Justice Shahjehan Khan Yousafzai and Justice Saleem Khan, which is going to hear the case on Nov 24.

The petitioners have alleged that the checking of the entrance test paper was not up to the mark and marks were given to students on wrong answers, whereas their correct answers were marked wrong.

They have requested the court to either order conducting the test again or re-check the papers through the Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB).