18 injured as IJT activists attack Punjab University cultural show

By
Ahmed Faraz
|

LAHORE: At least 18 students were left wounded due to a clash between two rival student groups in Punjab University on Tuesday, prompting authorities to call in police to help control the situation.

According to reports, a student group was celebrating their cultural day outside the Faisal Auditorium, when a rival student group arrived and began chanting slogans against them.

Soon both the groups were raising slogans against each other, which led to an all-out brawl. The students were seen attacking each other with batons and by pelting bricks.

Upon worsening of the situation, authorities called in the police, who resorted to aerial firing and tear-gassing to control enraged pupils.

The clash left at least 18 students injured, while a stall at the cultural show venue also caught fire from a tear gas shell. 

Television footage showed an unconscious student being whisked away by his friends. The injured were shifted to a hospital.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah put the responsibility of the clash on Islami Jamiat Tulba activists. He said that 18 out of 22 arrested students involved in brawl belonged to the IJT.

The IJT, on the other hand, said their camp first came under attack by the rival group.

Speaking to Geo News, Vice Chancellor Punjab University Zafar Moeen Nasir said action would be taken against those responsible. “We have told the police to clean up the entire system and want people who are illegal occupants or those causing provocation to be caught.”  

Mr Nasir said a committee had been formed to probe this matter and action will be taken by the university.

CM takes notice

Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and summoned a report. The chief minister stressed that action would be taken against those responsible and no one was above the law.

The chief minister also ordered that the best medical care is provided to the injured students.