LAHORE: Ten students were injured in a violent clash between two groups of students at the Punjab University (PU) in the wee hours on Thursday.

The clash erupted between the members of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), Baloch and Pashtun councils, who had earlier gathered outside the Law College on the New Campus allegedly over some personal issues.

One of the eyewitnesses said five to six students of Baloch Students Council were sitting outside the Law College on Wednesday when an IJT activist approached them and exchanged harsh words with them over some issue. The Baloch council members took hold of the IJT activist at which seven to eight IJT activists standing in the ground attacked them.

Police and PU administration reached there and dispersed the quarrelling students.

Later, around 3am in the night, the students from both the groups attacked each other with stones, clubs and sticks. As a result, 10 of the students were injured and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where they were said to be stable.

Police also registered cases under terrorism charges against the activists of both student groups for disturbing the educational activities and creating law and order situation on the campus.

The FIR, a copy available with Dawn, states that IJT activists, Ibad Bhatti, Ibtisaam Ilahi, Faizur Rehman, Zain Sarfraz, Ahsan Fareed, Rai Mahbob, Dawar Yousuf, Arslan Manj, Babar Baloch, Rana Waseem, Saqib Zaman, Mujtaba Tarar and Mazhar Zaid and Baloch, and Pashtun activists, Saifullah Wazir, Wali Khan Ziyarat Wal, Obaid Khan and Tariq Khan, clashed with each other over some issue.

Police arrested Wali Khan Ziarat Wal, Sajjad Khan Yousafzai, Saifullah Wazir, Nasrullah, Abdul Ghani, Muhammad Anis, Ilyas, Obaidullah, Tariq Abdul Manan, Ishfaq, Ali Raza, Waseem Sajjad, Naseeruddin, Wajahat, Shakir, Abdullah, Asmatullah and Tanvir.

PU spokesperson Khurrum Shehzad told Dawn 12 of the students involved in the clash were suspended from taking classes and that the administration would take further disciplinary action after holding an inquiry into the matter. He said the cause behind the clash was unclear but the administration was trying to resolve the issue peacefully. He appealed to the students to maintain harmony on the campus.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2024