Thirty students were injured during a clash with security guards at Punjab University during the ‘Students Rights March’.
The Punjab University Student Federation (PUSF)—representing various student groups—organized the march at the Institute of Education and Research (IER). Their demands included reversing fee hikes, including students on harassment committees, building new hostels, resolving scholarship issues, restoring quotas for South Punjab, and investigating a student’s death.
Tensions rose when guards allegedly assaulted participants, disrupting the gathering and seizing a microphone from Pashtun Council chairman Arif Kakar.
Social media videos show guards attempting to halt the march and assaulting students. Initially retreating, students responded by hurling stones and bottles, injuring 30 students and ten guards.
Arif Kakar said the event was peaceful until the chief security officer (CSO) ordered an attack and threatened his family. He highlighted the march and addressed the recent student death and fee hikes, demanding administrative action against the aggressive guards.
Iqbal Town SP Bilal Ahmad led a significant police force to disperse the crowd. An anonymous PU official claimed SP Ahmad criticized the CSO’s decision, which escalated the situation.
Conversely, a PU spokesperson disputed the students’ claims, stating the students initiated the violence, causing severe injuries to 10 guards. The spokesperson noted prior assurances against provocative speeches were ignored.
Following the incident, Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah condemned the attack on guards, instructing optimal care for them and stern action against the students involved based on eyewitness accounts and video evidence.
The Punjab government formed a four-member committee to investigate the clash. The team, led by Dr. Qaiser Abbas, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sargodha, includes PU and Higher Education Department officials.
