At least two students were injured and 12 arrested on Tuesday after clash between members of the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) and Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) on the premises of Islamia College University in Peshawar.

Eyewitnesses claimed that IJT members had stopped and questioned a PSF member while he was walking with a female student who studies at the same institute.

“A member of PSF was walking and talking with a girl student when he was stopped by some members of IJT, who asked for their identification and relationship,” a student told DawnNews.

Soon after the incident, other PSF members reached the spot and a scuffle broke out between the two groups.

A large number of police personnel were called in to the university to control the situation.

“Two students sustained injuries and were shifted to Khyber Teaching Hospital,” DSP Campus Saif Ullah said. The police official added that the condition of the injured students was out of danger.

“Police have arrested 12 students,” said the DSP, adding that a search operation was underway to arrest others involved in the scuffle.

Saif Ullah claimed that the reason for the scuffle was the earlier clash between chapters of the same student groups at Punjab University (PU).

University officials refused to comment on the matter.

Earlier, at least 10 people had been injured as students from the IJT allegedly gatecrashed a Pakhtun cultural event being held at PU.

Following the clash, police had reached the campus and used tear gas to disperse a violent crowd.

History of intimidation

The IJT is a right-wing student body that often operates in university campuses across the country as the de facto moral police. IJT members have in the past objected to Valentine's Day celebrations and the playing of music at certain cultural events.

University administration officials have also complained to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif about the "Jamiat's [IJT's] negative activities on the university campus".