Security official detained after firing weapon during student protest at Islamabad university
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A security official is in custody following an incident at Islamabad's Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology (SUSIT).
- The official allegedly discharged a weapon during a scuffle with students protesting the dismissal of a senior official.
- Video footage shows the uniformed individual confronting protestors, engaging in a physical altercation, and firing a pistol into the air.
A security official is facing disciplinary action under military law after allegedly discharging a weapon during a confrontation with students at Islamabad's Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology (SUSIT). The incident occurred on the university's Chattha Bakhtawar campus, where students were protesting the dismissal of a senior official and other university-related issues.
Video footage circulating on social media depicts a uniformed individual approaching a group of male students, reportedly from SUSIT, accompanied by a woman identified as a university official. The video shows the uniformed individual striking one student with a stick and engaging in a heated exchange with the protestors. A scuffle ensued, during which an angry crowd surrounded the officer. Some individuals appeared to assault him, prompting him to draw a pistol and point it at the crowd.
The woman accompanying the official attempted to intervene, but the man then fired his weapon into the air. Several police officers quickly arrived at the scene and surrounded the individual. In a subsequent video, a senior Islamabad police official addressed the students, assuring them that the individual had been escorted from the university by police and would be dealt with strictly and swiftly under army disciplinary procedures.
Sources involved in the investigation confirmed the security official's detention and stated that further action would be taken based on the inquiry's findings. The Pakistan Army's commitment to maintaining strict discipline and ensuring justice was emphasized. As of Monday evening, no official statement had been released by the police, security forces, or the university administration regarding the incident.
Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.