ISLAMABAD: Another scuffle took place between two student groups of the country’s top ranked Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad on Monday, causing fear and panic on campus. The university has been temporarily closed

The students belonging to two different ethnic groups were also hitting each other. During the clash, around two dozen students faced injuries and it is said that two of the injured are in critical condition.

“Around 24 students received injuries and two of them are critical. We shifted the injured to Poly Clinic and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims),” said an officer of QAU.

He added that there are some reports that one of the students received an injury because of the use of a dagger.

Police also rushed to the scene to control the situation. The officer said that 10 days ago, students of the said group clashed with each other and today, another scuffle took place.

Later on, sensing the gravity of the situation, the university management decided to close the university for an indefinite period.

“Amid violent clash between student groups, Quaid-i-Azam University is closed till further orders,” said registrar of QAU Dr Raja Qaiser Ahmed.

A notification issued on Monday stated: “In the backdrop of the precarious law and order situation amid violent clash between student groups, QAU is closed till further orders. All the residents of hostels (boys and girls) are hereby directed to vacate the hostels immediately.”

It is relevant to note here that almost every year, a scuffle takes place between students belonging to various student councils, badly disrupting educational activities and tarnishing the image of the country’s top ranked universities.

An officer of QAU said that the university has taken up the issue with Islamabad police and the district administration, and in the next couple of days, a massive operation will be conducted to get the hostel vacated.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2023