Several injured as student groups clash at Abbottabad varsity

ABBOTTABAD: The Abbottabad University of Science and Technology plunged into chaos on Monday when a student solidarity rally turned violent, resulting in clashes, injuries, and multiple arrests.

The protest, organized by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) - the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) - aimed to express solidarity with students expelled following earlier demonstrations over Gaza.According to witnesses, tensions flared when the peaceful rally reached the university’s main gate. A large group of students from the Insaf Students Federation (ISF), affiliated with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), arrived along with a police contingent. Clashes soon broke out between the two groups, and police reportedly baton-charged the protesters.

The situation worsened when a car, allegedly driven by Sanaullah Khan Jadoon, rammed into the crowd of protesting students. One student was critically injured and was rushed to Havelian Hospital by fellow students, while several others were treated for injuries at the same facility.

Following the clashes, police arrested dozens of students.In response to the escalating unrest, the university administration - which critics accused of turning the campus into a “political arena” - convened an emergency meeting to consider closing the institution. However, no final decision had been announced by the time of filing this report.

Representatives of JI and local business leaders later arrived at the university to express solidarity with IJT members and demanded action against those responsible for the violence.Abdul Razzaq Abbasi, JI’s ameer for the Hazara Division, condemned the attack. “Peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen and student,” he said. “Violence against students is shameful and unacceptable.”

He alleged that individuals linked to the ruling party were brought in from outside the university to attack the protesters. Abbasi demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible, the restoration of the expelled students, and justice for the victims.