After yesterday’s firing incident, Sarhad University administration on Tuesday has closed the Islamabad campus, while classes have been suspended indefinitely. Several examinations that were under way have also been cancelled.
On Monday, a student protest turned ugly after protesters allegedly began harassing Human Resources (HR) Manager Dr Aina Ilyas. Students closed the university gates and demanded the resignation of the HR manager.
A video showing a tense confrontation at Sarhad University’s Islamabad campus has gone viral on social media, raising questions about what led to the incident.
Pakistan Connect visited the university on Tuesday to seek the administration’s official version of events. However, university officials declined to comment on camera or issue a formal statement.
According to students, the university administration has directed them to vacate the campus, while classes will remain suspended indefinitely.
Police have surrounded the campus, and no one is being allowed to enter the premises.
Several students and employees also refused to speak on camera, saying they had been instructed by the university administration not to talk to media representatives.
However, students, staff members and people who claimed to have witnessed the incident shared details with the reporter off the record.
According to their account, the dispute is linked to an earlier matter involving Dr Jadoon and Dr Aina. Students told Pakistan Connect that Dr Aina had filed a harassment complaint against Dr Jadoon, after which he was temporarily suspended by the university while the matter was under consideration.
A group of students supporting Dr Jadoon reportedly staged a protest at the university on Monday.
According to witnesses who spoke to the reporter, the situation became tense after the protesting students encountered Dr Aina. They alleged that some students stopped her, verbally abused her and harassed her, leading to a confrontation.
Sources said police were called to the campus after the situation escalated. Police sources also told Pakistan Connect that the situation was out of control when officers arrived at the scene.
According to the accounts provided to the reporter, Dr Aina later contacted her husband, who was identified by people at the university as Lt Col Asfand Yar.
The viral video appears to show a man in military uniform involved in a heated confrontation with students. In parts of the footage, students can be seen surrounding him, while sticks also appear to be used during the clash.
Witnesses claimed that the officer was also attacked and that the confrontation intensified in the heat of the moment. They said he later pulled out a firearm, allegedly in an attempt to protect himself and Dr Aina.
The university administration has so far declined to publicly present its version of the incident.
Army officer taken into custody after firing incident at Sarhad University campus
