Sarhad University Protest Turns Violent, Students Accuse Army Officer of Firing

ISLAMABAD: A protest at Sarhad University’s Islamabad campus escalated into a violent confrontation after students clashed with a uniformed man they identified as an army officer, with protesters alleging that he assaulted students and fired shots during the altercation.

Students Clash With Uniformed Man

The confrontation unfolded amid an ongoing dispute between students and the university administration, with protesters demanding the removal of a female HR official and raising a series of allegations concerning events they say have been unfolding at the campus for around one-and-a-half months.

Videos reviewed by Islamabad Tribune show a uniformed man accompanying a woman through a crowd of students. During the confrontation, the man can be seen striking a male student with what appears to be a stick. Several students subsequently surround and physically confront him as tensions rapidly escalate.

Firearm Discharged During Confrontation

A firearm is also discharged during the confrontation. Students alleged that the uniformed man initially attempted to fire directly during the clash before firing into the air after being stopped by the woman accompanying him. The precise direction and circumstances of the discharge require determination by investigators and should not be inferred solely from the available footage.

Students identified the woman as a university HR official and alleged that the uniformed man was her husband and a serving army officer. His precise identity, rank and service status should be formally confirmed by the relevant authorities.

Students Allege Assault and Intimidation

Following the confrontation, several female students publicly expressed anger and repeatedly demanded “justice” and “respect.”

Students alleged that the uniformed man had assaulted male protesters and also behaved inappropriately towards female students. One of the allegations raised by protesters was that a female student’s dupatta was pulled during the confrontation and that she was subjected to intimidation and physical mistreatment.

These allegations concerning the female student are serious and require an independent investigation. Islamabad Tribune is reporting them as claims made by protesting students rather than established findings.

Students further alleged that abusive language was used and that threats were issued during and after the confrontation.

Students Question Police Response

Protesters also questioned the response of Islamabad Police. They accused police personnel of failing to take preventive or timely action despite the situation escalating and alleged that the accused individuals were being afforded protection.

Students questioned why immediate action had allegedly not been taken despite the firearm discharge and physical confrontation.

However, the allegation that police deliberately protected any individual has not been independently established. Islamabad Police’s formal account of its response and any legal action arising from the incident will be critical in determining what occurred.

Dispute Has Continued for Weeks

According to the protesting students, Monday’s confrontation was the culmination of a dispute that had been continuing for approximately one-and-a-half months.

Students said one of their major demands concerned their Head of Department (HOD), whom they described as a respected faculty member. They alleged that a false complaint or case had been initiated against him amid an administrative dispute.

According to the students’ account, pressure was allegedly placed on the HOD to resign, while protesters claimed that withdrawal of an earlier complaint had been linked to his resignation. Islamabad Tribune has not independently verified the relevant complaint, its contents or the circumstances surrounding it.

Students Demand HOD’s Return

Students said their protest was aimed at securing the HOD’s return and demanding the removal of the HR official whom they hold responsible for the continuing dispute.

Protesters also referred to an earlier case or complaint involving a student representative and made allegations concerning how it was lodged and used during the dispute. Because these claims involve potentially serious criminal allegations and their underlying documentation has not yet been independently verified, they should be treated solely as the protesting students’ account pending examination of the relevant police and university records.

Students maintained that they had repeatedly tried to have their concerns heard but had received no satisfactory response.

“We are students, who are we supposed to go to?” one protester asked while describing the continuing dispute.

Female Students Demand Accountability

Female students said they would continue demanding accountability, insisting that students should be able to study in an environment where their dignity and safety are protected.

Some protesters also demanded intervention by senior military authorities because the individual they accused was allegedly associated with the army. Students said they wanted a senior authority to examine the incident and ensure an impartial investigation.

Authorities Reach Campus

Following the confrontation, Islamabad Police and district administration personnel reached the campus as tensions remained high.

The incident now raises several questions requiring formal investigation: what triggered the initial physical confrontation; who discharged the firearm and in what direction; whether any student was deliberately targeted; whether female students were assaulted or intimidated; what role the university’s underlying administrative dispute played; and whether law-enforcement personnel responded appropriately.

University Response Awaited

The university administration’s version is equally important, particularly regarding the students’ allegations against the HR official, the dispute involving the HOD, and the events preceding the confrontation.

As of the filing of this report, Islamabad Tribune had not received a detailed official response addressing all of the students’ allegations from Sarhad University administration or the other parties accused by protesters.

Islamabad Tribune will incorporate their versions and any findings by Islamabad Police, district administration or other competent authorities as they become available.

Legal Disclaimer

This report contains serious allegations made publicly by protesting students, including claims of assault, firing, mistreatment of female students, threats, misuse of complaints and deliberate police inaction. Except for events directly observable in footage reviewed by Islamabad Tribune, these claims should not be interpreted as independently established facts or findings of guilt. The identity, rank and institutional status attributed to the uniformed individual should also be formally confirmed by the competent authority. All individuals and institutions mentioned or implicated are entitled to respond, and responsibility can only be conclusively determined through a competent investigation and legal process.