Army Officer in Custody After Firing at Islamabad University Protest
A security official is in custody and facing disciplinary action under military law after an alleged firing incident at Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology (SUSIT) in Islamabad, sources involved in the investigation said late Monday.
The incident occurred at the university’s Chattha Bakhtawar campus, where students had been protesting against the dismissal of a senior official and other varsity-related issues. According to Dawn, the individual allegedly discharged a weapon during a scuffle with protestors.
A video shared widely on social media shows a uniformed individual approaching a group of young men, who are reportedly SUSIT students. He is accompanied by a woman, said to be a university official. The footage shows the suspect hitting an individual with a stick and exchanging heated words with protestors, following which a scuffle breaks out. An angry crowd surrounds the officer, and some individuals appear to assault him. The officer then draws a pistol and points it at the crowd. The woman accompanying him appears to try to stop him, but the man points the weapon into the air and discharges it.
Several police officers then approach and encircle him. In a later video, a senior Islamabad police official can be seen addressing the students, saying the individual was escorted out of the university by police and will be dealt with strictly and swiftly under the army’s disciplinary procedures.
Sources privy to the matter said: “The Pakistan Army’s foremost priority is to maintain a strict system of discipline and ensure justice. Further action will be taken in light of the findings of the inquiry.”
No official statement has been issued by the police, security forces, or university yet.
Differing Accounts of the Protest Trigger
While Dawn reported that students were agitating against the dismissal of a senior official and other varsity-related issues, another version of events—reported by Times Now—described the protest as being over issues related to the Head of Department, fees, and classes. The two accounts are not necessarily contradictory, but they emphasize different grievances.
Times Now also provided additional context, saying that the university’s Head of Student Affairs, Dr Aina, had gone to speak to the protesting students, but some were not in favour of negotiating over their demands. Dr Aina then reportedly called her husband, who is a Pakistan Army officer. When he arrived, he allegedly assaulted a student with a stick, prompting a confrontation. This detail was not mentioned in Dawn’s report.
Both outlets agree that an officer fired shots into the air and that a video of the incident has surfaced online. However, Dawn’s account focuses on the officer being taken into custody and facing military discipline, while Times Now emphasizes the alleged assault by the officer and the viral nature of the footage.
Status of the Investigation
As of now, no official statement has been released by police, security forces, or the university. Military sources indicate that an inquiry is underway and that the officer will face disciplinary action under army procedures. The exact charges or the officer’s identity have not been disclosed.