KARACHI: The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology will remain closed for two days after the students clashed with the law enforcers over the arrest of students belonging to the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) on Tuesday.

According to university officials, some Rangers personnel had sustained injuries in a clash between the ISO and the Pukhtoon Students Federation two days ago, after which the university was closed. “When classes were resumed on Tuesday, a former graduate Zakaria Masood Ali of the ISO arrived and the Rangers tried to apprehend him,” said a university official.

“Ali was the only one responsible who’s barred from entering the premises of the university, but the Rangers urged the administration to also ban the entry of five current students whom they also tried to apprehend, which lead to the situation turning violent,” the official added. Moreover, all the students that the Rangers wanted to bar are affiliated with the ISO. This further enraged the students who gathered on the road outside the university and staged a protest against the highhandedness of the Rangers.

The angry crowd blocked the main University Road that leads to Civic Centre and Nipa Chowrangi, and pelted the passing vehicles with stones, while chanting slogans against the Rangers and university administration. They demanded to kick out the Rangers from the university.

Following the incident, the local police arrived on the scene. However, the angry mob also attacked them with stones. Reports claimed that when the police arrived on the scene, some unidentified people resorted to aerial firing and attempted to snatch weapons from the law enforcers.

As a result, the law enforcers had to resort to baton charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd, resulting in at least half a dozen students getting minor injuries. It took the law enforcers two hours to take control of the situation. However, none of the students responsible for the incident were arrested.

Later, the higher authorities met with the university’s vice chancellor, and holding Ali’s companions at the university responsible, demanded to cancel their registration. Although the university did not cancel their registration, a committee has been formed to make proper inquiries in this regard.

Gulshan Town SP Javed Maher told Daily Times that the police promptly brought the situation under control, but was unable to apprehend the culprits involved in the incident as they managed to escape. A case has been registered against Ali and five other students, the SP added.

The university officials have announced that both campuses of the university would remain closed for two days and classes would commence from Friday as per the schedule.Daily times