Thirty students were injured when security guards at Punjab University clashed with participants of the “Students Rights March” on Tuesday. The protest, organized by the Punjab University Student Federation (PUSF) and comprising various student organizations, was held outside the Institute of Education and Research (IER) to voice demands including the reversal of recent fee hikes, student representation in harassment committees, construction of new hostels, resolution of scholarship issues, restoration of quotas for South Punjab tribal areas, and an investigation into the suspicious death of a female student found hanging in the university hostel.
The situation escalated when security guards attempted to disperse the protest, allegedly attacking students and snatching a microphone from Arif Kakar, the Pashtun Council chairman. Video footage shared on social media showed guards clashing with students, who initially retreated but then responded by throwing stones and bottles. In total, 30 students and 10 guards sustained injuries during the incident.
Kakar accused the chief security officer (CSO) of threatening students and inciting the guards to attack during what was meant to be a peaceful demonstration. He emphasized that the protest aimed to seek justice for the deceased student and address the fee hikes.
Following the clash, a heavy police presence was deployed to disperse the crowd. An anonymous PU official reported that the SP questioned the CSO’s decision to order guards to break up the protest. In contrast, a university spokesperson claimed the students instigated the violence by attacking guards first.
Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah condemned the attack on the security personnel and called for disciplinary action against the protesting students, without mentioning the injuries sustained by the students. The Punjab government has since established a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident.
