LAHORE, April 19: University of Education students and clerks clashed on the university campus leaving a number of them injured on Saturday.

The All-Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) unit of Punjab education department was observing one-hour pen-down strike and holding banners and placards against what they called “insulting attitude of the UE vice-chancellor.” They were demanding that the Directorate of Staff Development (DSD) should be recovered from illegal occupation of the university.

In the meanwhile, the clerks alleged, some students, provoked by the vice-chancellor, reached the campus along with some outsiders and tore their placards and banners.

The clerks claimed that the boys, who were carrying hockey sticks, started beating them. Some of the clerks snatched sticks from some students and started beating the boys. Clerks Shafqat Shaukat, Rana Ikram, Allah Rakha, and a security guard and some students sustained injuries. The clash stopped only when the police reached the spot on the call of vice-chancellor.

Students claimed that clerks were resorting to hooliganism and harassing the vice-chancellor.

When contacted, vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mustafa Habibullah denied that the students clashed at his behest. Students and clerks had developed some misunderstanding and he was working to resolve the issue.

Later, UE administration director Nasrullah Virk and APCA leaders submitted separate applications with the Allama Iqbal Town police highlighting their respective points of view.

When contacted, police said a case had been registered against two APCA leaders Khalilur Rehman and Farooq for damaging public property.