A journalist died overnight after being hit in the head by a stone during student riots outside the Multan Press Club, his family said Thursday.
Jahangir Alam Khan Moon, 65, was at the club when university students gathered outside, chanting slogans and blocking the road, his cousin Mohsin Raza said.
Students from the Veterinary Science department of the Bahauddin Zakariya University were demanding that the government recognise their degrees.
Protesters routinely gather outside press clubs in a bid to maximise media coverage of their demands.
“A motorcycle carrying a patient arrived and some journalists went to convince the students to let it pass,” Raza told AFP. “A scuffle broke out and the students started pelting stones and several journalists were wounded.” Moon, a freelance sports correspondent, was one of those hurt.
“He was hit in the head by a stone. He went to hospital and received some stitches. When he returned home he went to his room to change his clothes but he died,” said Raza, who is himself a journalist. “It was not clear why he died. It could have been a heart attack.” Police said 39 people were detained on charges of resorting to violence. Local police chief Amir Zulfiqar promised action against the culprits.