On July 29, 2025, Islamabad police arrested approximately 55 to 60 students during an early morning raid at the hostels of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).
The operation was carried out at the request of the university administration and targeted hostels 6, 8, 9, and 11, which had been vacated for scheduled maintenance during the summer vacation. The detained students were taken to the Secretariat Police Station.
The administration of QAU instructed students to vacate the hostels by July 13, 2025, due to maintenance work. While most students complied with this order, some remained in the four hostels, leading to multiple extensions of the deadline. Once the final deadline had passed, the administration sought police assistance to evict those who were still residing there illegally.
The students of Quaid e Azam University were handicapped by unknown persons in front of police Personnel.
Is he the police personnel,too lazy to wear the uniform overriding the law or some ghost creature who don’t care about the law.#SaveQAU @ICT_Police #QAUundersiege pic.twitter.com/B4pWXb6p8w
— Naqeebullah khan Tareen (@Naqeebtareen72) July 29, 2025The Islamabad police confirmed that they provided “legal assistance” at the university’s request. They also mentioned that students who resisted were detained and that legal action would be taken based on written complaints.
Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir claimed 72 students were arrested. Speaking outside the police station, she said, “We are going to meet the vice chancellor to resolve the issues.” The Vice Chancellor’s Office was locked due to student protests, with the administration confirming the closure of the VC Secretariat.
The raid has intensified tensions, leading to student protests against the forceful evictions. Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), a prominent public university, is facing scrutiny over its management of the situation. This incident underscores the challenges of balancing administrative needs with student rights and raises important questions about communication and enforcement. Mazari’s involvement indicates that potential legal challenges may be on the horizon.
