The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has imposed a Rs20 million fine on Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) in the FJMU student death case, the February death of final-year student Fariha Ibrahim in a university hostel in Lahore. The PMDC Disciplinary Committee said the university was responsible for ensuring adequate measures for the safety and welfare of its students. FJMU has filed a review petition with the PMDC challenging the penalty.
What the PMDC has directed
The committee said it imposed the penalty after reviewing the circumstances of the incident. It directed the university to strengthen oversight of students and to monitor their physical and mental well-being on a regular basis. It also told FJMU to introduce mentorship, harassment prevention and counselling programmes for female students.
According to committee documents, the decision was sent to the university only after formal approval by the PMDC Council. The council had earlier sought a formal response from FJMU about the student's death. The committee's directions underline that a university must keep a safe environment and provide support systems for its students.
Circumstances of the death
Fariha was 22, a final-year student originally from Kashmir, who was living in Lahore with her father. Police said she was taken to hospital with severe head injuries and died from excessive blood loss. Medical officials identified critical head trauma as the cause of death.
Accounts differ on where she fell from. One version says she jumped from the third floor of the university hostel, while another says she jumped from the roof of the college hostel.
At the time, her final-year examinations were under way. One paper had been completed, and another was scheduled for 19 February. Police said preliminary findings indicated she had reportedly been suffering from severe depression for around six months. These findings are preliminary, and police said further investigation is under way, with a medical board constituted to examine the circumstances.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- February 2026: Fariha Ibrahim, a final-year student, died after an incident at the university hostel in Lahore, according to police. Her next paper was scheduled for 19 February.
- Earlier, no date given: the PMDC sought a formal response from FJMU about the death.
- October 2026: the PMDC Disciplinary Committee announced a Rs20 million fine on FJMU, and the university filed a review petition against it.
- Ongoing: police investigation continues and a medical board has been constituted.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PMDC ne Fatima Jinnah Medical University par Rs20 million ka jurmana laga diya hai. Yeh jurmana February mein university hostel mein talba Fariha Ibrahim ki maut ke maamle par hai. Committee ne university ko students ki nigrani, mental health aur counselling ke programmes shuru karne ka kaha hai. University ne is faisle ke khilaf review petition dakhil ki hai, aur police tehqiqaat jaari rakhe hue hai.
