A video of the Islamabad campus of Sarhad University is going viral across social media. In the video, a man in an Army uniform is seen hitting students and opening fire.
Here is what students say happened:
The Protest: Students were peacefully protesting because the university raised fees and was not holding regular classes.
The Argument with the Admin
During the protest, an argument broke out. The argument was between some of the protesting students and a lady named Dr. Aina. She is the Head of Student Affairs at Sarhad University. The argument started getting heated.
The Husband Arrives
After the argument, Dr. Aina reportedly called her husband, who is an Army officer. He arrived at the campus wearing his official military uniform and carrying a gun. The students claim that he immediately began to threaten them to make them stop the protest.
The Fight and the Firing
In the viral video, you can see the officer holding a stick. He appears to first hit one student with the stick, and then he starts hitting another student. The students surrounded him and started slapping and hitting him back. To break free from the crowd, the officer pulled out his gun and opened fire right there on the campus.
Counter-Reports of Harassment
While students claim the protest was entirely peaceful, there are also contrasting reports emerging from the campus. According to these accounts, some protesters allegedly misbehaved with Dr. Aina and harassed her. She felt unsafe and called her husband to the scene for her personal safety and protection.
Current Official Update:
Following the public outrage, the Pakistan Army has reportedly taken quick action. According to sources close to the matter, the army officer has been taken into military custody. A formal investigation and disciplinary proceedings have reportedly been initiated against him.