New details have emerged following the tragic death of Mahnoor Nadeem, a fourth-year student at Avicenna Medical College in Lahore, raising questions about whether her death was a result of suicide or murder.
Mahnoor’s death has shone a spotlight on the severe maltreatment and harsh conditions reported at Avicenna Medical College in Lahore.
Allegations of extreme punishments and excessive pressures imposed on students have surfaced, contributing to severe mental distress among the student body. Mahnoor Nadeem’s untimely death has dramatically underscored this distress.
Social media videos have depicted disturbing disciplinary measures by the university administration, including cutting students’ shirts for not being tucked in and confiscating, then destroying, mobile phones equipped with cameras.
Read: Avicenna Medical College Announces Policy Changes Following Student Protests
The college’s owner, Abdul Waheed Sheikh, faces serious allegations, including character assassination and verbal abuse directed at female students for not adhering to dress codes, such as failing to wear a dupatta.
Additionally, it has been reported that Mahnoor Nadeem was fined 90,000 PKR annually and was denied sick leave requests. In response to students asking for leave, Abdul Waheed Sheikh is alleged to have made insensitive remarks such as, “Is your father alive? Ask for leave when he passes away.”
Other student reports suggest exorbitant fines for minor infractions, including a 160,000 PKR penalty for taking a six-day leave and a 50,000 PKR fine for using the restroom without notifying a teacher. These revelations have sparked outrage and calls for a thorough investigation into the practices at Avicenna Medical College.
