LAHORE: Several students were injured when two groups clashed on the Punjab University new campus on Thursday.

The clash erupted between Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) and Baloch, Seraiki and Pukhtun councils when IJT activists thrashed two Baloch council activists in a bus coming from the old campus.

The Baloch, Seraiki and Pukhtun councils’ activists gathered on the new campus and thrashed the IJT activists who first clashed with their members in the bus.

Meanwhile, IJT activists who were holding a seminar on the struggle of Kashmiri leader Yaseen Malik, reached the spot in large numbers and started pelting their rivals with stones outside the Electrical Engineering Department of the university.

Both sides continued pelting stones, resultantly several students suffered injuries. The groups also resorted to firing.

The injured were shifted to nearby hospital where some of them were said to be critical.

Meanwhile, Baloch, Pukhtun and Seraiki councils’ activists came out of the university and blocked traffic on the campus bridge. They demanded action against the IJT activists involved in attacking their fellows.

A heavy police contingent approached the spot and dispersed the students.

The police took 16 students of Baloch, Pukhtun and Seriaki councils into custody.

Baloch council chairman Ahsan Baloch said they were protesting against the administration as outsiders from Mansoora and Islamia College were allowed to enter the campus and attack the students.IJT’s Bahadur Khan Kakar claimed that more than 80 activists were injured when the councils’ members attacked them outside the International Relations Department during a seminar on Kashmir issue. He also demanded action against the students involved in attacking the seminar.

A PU spokesperson said the administration would take stern action against the students involved in creating law and order situation on the campus.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2022