ABBOTTABAD: A student was killed and two others were injured when two student groups clashed at the Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST) on Wednesday.

According to reports, a brawl broke out between students of the management sciences and mathematics departments. The groups allegedly exchanged kicks and punches inside the university premises. Instead of resolving the matter, the university administration and security personnel expelled the students from the campus.

However, tensions escalated outside the university gate, where the groups clashed again. During the altercation, firing reportedly took place from one side, resulting in the death of Abdullah, a resident of Haripur.

Two other students — Ahsan, and Rehan, residents of Abbottabad — sustained injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, the heirs of the deceased staged a protest by placing the body on the Havelian-Doraha Road, causing traffic jam. The protest ended after the police assured the family that the accused would be arrested.

No arrests had been made till filing of this report.

Sources revealed that the university was functioning without a vice-chancellor and registrar. They disclosed that the vice-chancellor was reportedly associated with the University of Brighton in the UK and visited AUST occasionally. The registrar has also allegedly been absent from the university for several months.

Additionally, they said a teacher had reportedly been serving as director administration for several years, despite section 17 of the University Act states that the post should be held by a retired security officer. The sources claimed that the administrative lapses had contributed to repeated disturbances on the campus.

HASHISH SEIZED: The Excise Intelligence Bureau, Hazara, carried out a major operation on Wednesday and recovered more than eight maunds of hashish from a vehicle.

Bureau’s in-charge Syed Tauqir Shah told reporters that acting on intelligence officials intercepted a suspicious vehicle near Fareedullah Fish Point on the GT Road.

During the search, they recovered over eight maunds of hashish from the vehicle and arrested the accused. A case was registered against them and further investigation was underway.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026