LAHORE: Police on Wednesday arrested five Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) activists in connection with two incidents of violence at the Punjab University’s new campus.

According to FIRs, the first incident occurred at Gate No 3 when IJT activists attacked security guards after they stopped their nazim, Sohaib Fakhri, and asked for identification. The second incident took place at Gate No 4, where guards were assaulted for demanding student ID cards.

The arrested activists include Sohaib Fakhri and Tayyab Gujjar.

Three guards, identified as Ibrar, Abdul Rehman, and Akmal, were injured during the May 3 incident at Gate No 3. Two others, Adeel and Akram, were injured in the May 5 attack at Gate No 4.

Police registered two separate cases at the Muslim Town police station against 22 nominated and 20 unidentified IJT activists.

A Punjab University spokesperson said that the police arrested five IJT activists for attacking guards and issuing life threats to a security officer. He confirmed that Fakhri and Gujjar were among those taken into custody and reiterated that the university was acting against disruptive elements without discrimination.

“No student will be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” he added.

Meanwhile, IJT activists launched a sit-in outside the vice chancellor’s office, demanding the unconditional release of their colleagues.

An IJT spokesperson said the arrested students were exercising their democratic right to work for the betterment of the university and society. “The students were arrested unlawfully and denied their democratic rights,” he said.

He added that the sit-in would continue until the arrested students were released and called on the vice chancellor and authorities to take notice of the arrests.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2025