LAHORE: The Punjab University administration has lodged two cases against students involved in clashes with each other and security guards.
Both cases were registered on complaints by acting Chief Security Officer (CSO) retired Col Umar Khalid at the Muslim Town police station.
In the first case, 20 activists from Pashtun, Baloch, and Punjabi councils were named, with 70 others unidentified, for clashing with security guards and injuring 21 of them.
According to the complaint, the students, led by Arif Kakar, held a rally where they allegedly chanted slogans against the administration and issued threats to security guards. When the guards tried to stop them, the students allegedly attacked, resulting in injuries to the guards.
However, eyewitnesses and mobile footage circulating on social media suggested that security guards had attacked the students, who were holding a peaceful rally protesting fee hikes, harassment of female students, and demanding an investigation into the recovery of a student’s body from the girls hostel.
In the second case, the CSO reported that Pashtun Council students were holding a cultural event at the Law College canteen when they were allegedly attacked by Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists. Students from both groups reportedly caused damage to college buildings, including doors, windows, and a classroom speaker.
Police have nominated 13 IJT activists, 10 Pashtun Council members, and 20 unidentified students in the case.
Following the incidents, Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Ali Shah removed the CSO for allegedly ordering an attack on the student rally. He also instructed the university’s discipline committee to take action against the students involved in the clashes, aiming to restore focus on academic activities on campus.
Students and academic circles have raised concerns over the recurring clashes, warning that such incidents create a volatile environment on campus and disrupt academic activities. They have called on the administration to initiate a dialogue among student organisations and take measures to curb rising campus violence.
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024
