ISLAMABAD: The Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad on Monday night shut down indefinitely while seeking Rangers’ deployment after a clash between Baloch and Pashtun ethnic student groups turned violent and injured several people.
The clash reportedly occurred between Baloch and Pashtun student councils, leaving a number of students injured. The clash also caused extensive damage to the university.
Earlier in the day, the QAU requested the Interior Ministry to deploy Rangers within the university’s premises “for identification and expulsion of outsiders/miscreants from campus and hostels”.
In a letter to the Interior Ministry, the university authorities said the Monday violent fight is a continuation of a fight that took place a few days ago. The university said the conflict between ethnic student councils disrupts the academic environment and creates a law and order situation on campus.
The university also added that they have previously raised this matter a number of times with the concerned parties but it was of no avail.
On Monday night, the university shut down indefinitely, directing all students, including boys and girls to vacate the hostel premises immediately as well.
The cause of the conflict is not known.
Several videos of the violent clash are circulating online wherein a large number of students can be seen attacking each other with sticks.
This is not the first time violent clashes have erupted between student groups at QAU.
In 2017 as well, two ethnic student groups clashed, resulting in the deployment of Rangers within the university premises to curtail the violent situation.
