August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

QUETTA, Aug 6: The provincial government ordered closure of the Balochistan University and all colleges in the city for three days after three student organisations clashed on Wednesday.

At least 21 students were injured in clashes between members of the Baloch Students Organisation-Azad (BSO-Azad), Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation (PSO) and Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF) in the university and the Government Degree College.

Six of the injured were admitted to hospital.

The Balochistan University and the provincial education department on Wednesday night announced that the university and colleges in Quetta would remain closed from Aug 7. The university will reopen on Aug 11 and the colleges on Aug 12.

The student organisations blamed each other for the clashes.

Members of the PSO held a demonstration outside the press club in protest against what they called the attack by members of the BSO-Azad. They accused the BSO-Azad of trying to create rifts between Baloch and Pakhtun students.

Members of the PkSF blocked a road near the Government Science College and burnt tyres in protest against the attack on their members in the university.

They claimed that 10 members of their organisation were injured. The protesters raised slogans against the BSO-Azad and urged the government to arrest the culprits.