Why Hafiz-e-Quran Students Get Extra Marks? : Supreme Court

The notion of Hafiz-e-Quran students receiving extra marks in university admissions has been challenged by Pakistan's Supreme Court (SC).

According to local news, the objection was expressed by prominent SC judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa during the hearing of a plea for admission to a medical university in Karachi.

After being denied admission to a university, a student from Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences in Quetta filed a case with the Supreme Court. In his opening remarks, the petitioner's counsel stated that his client might have easily been admitted on merit if he had been given a 20% bonus for being a Hafiz-e-Quran.

The petition is based on a law passed in 1987 that provides Hafiz-e-Quran students with a 20% bonus at every level following matriculation.

"How does being a hafiz-e-Quran affect admittance to medical and other colleges?" Why should an extra 20 points be awarded based on this?" Justice Isa stated

"We consider memorizing the Quran to be a religious act. "However, how can a hafiz-e-Quran be a better doctor?" he said, adding, "And it is a plus point when someone wants to become an imam of a mosque or a religious speaker."

"Why are you afraid of Islam?" Justice Isa responded to the petitioner's claim that the court must not get involved in the complexity of the case. "Religion is supposed to make our lives easier."

"This is a critical issue. "After debate, a decision can be made," he said.

The Supreme Court subsequently decided to have a separate hearing to address the problem and postponed the hearing. All participants, including the involved university and the Pakistan Medical Commission, were also served with notifications (PMC).