Two students of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) Abdul Haq Campus were injured on Tuesday after Pakistan Rangers directly fired at students protesting the non-provision of basic facilities inside the campus.
Students from the Faculty of Commerce had come out of their classes to stage a demonstration against the administration, raising anti-management slogans and demanding the provision of basic facilities such as water and sanitation, electricity, and availability of required books in the varsity’s library.
A contingent of the Pakistan Rangers reached the spot to break up the protest, and without any negotiation, started baton-charging peaceful protesters. The protesting students retaliated with stones and sticks, which prompted Rangers sepoys to open direct fire at them.
The Rangers action led to a stampede among the students, with many running out of the campus to save themselves. The injured students were hurriedly shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for treatment.
Hearing the sounds of gunshots, the faculty came out of their rooms to ask Rangers personnel to wind up their operation. Some teachers even had an altercation with Rangers sepoys for opening direct fire at peaceful protesters.
Meanwhile, the protesting students again returned to the place of protest and started ransacking windowpanes, furniture and flower pots. A delegation of students also met with the dean and recorded their protest against the highhandedness of law enforcers. The dean assured them that a complaint will be lodged with the Rangers high-ups and requested students to end their protest.
A student, who requested anonymity, told Pakistan Today that FUUAST-Abdul Haq campus’ students started a peaceful campaign against the administration some three months ago for their failure to provide basic facilities to them.
She said that the students were protesting inside the campus but Rangers sepoys deployed outside the campus entrance came inside and started baton-charging the students. She said the peaceful protesters became enraged over the “inhumane behaviour of law enforcers.”
