What Happened: Several students were injured in a violent clash between two groups at Quaid-i-Azam University, with hostel rooms set on fire and tensions later brought under control by police.
What you need to know: Several students were injured during a clash between two groups at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Thursday night. The fight, which extended to the hostels, resulted in some rooms being set on fire, though the flames were quickly extinguished by Capital Development Authority (CDA) firefighters. A CDA officer confirmed that the fire in hostel number 9 was under control.
What more: Videos circulating on social media showed students attacking each other with sticks and iron rods, and one clip appeared to show a man firing a handgun into the air, though these videos have not been verified. Secretariat police SHO Ashfaq Warraich stated that the altercation began at the huts and spread to the hostel, injuring at least seven students, one of them seriously. The injured were taken to the hospital, and police are investigating the incident.
Also: According to a QAU employee, the police and university administration brought the situation under control, and an FIR is being prepared. A senior police official confirmed the tension had eased, and efforts were being made to vacate the hostels, following a government order. QAU issued a notification that boys’ hostels would be closed from October 11 to 20 due to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Boarders were instructed to leave by October 11 with their belongings. This incident follows a clash last month, where 25 students were injured, leading to an FIR being registered.