A serving Pakistan Army officer has been taken into custody and is facing an inquiry after allegedly pointing a pistol at students and firing shots into the air during a protest at Sarhad University’s Islamabad campus.
The confrontation unfolded on Monday, August 24, as students gathered on campus to protest university-related issues. Reports say their concerns included the treatment and dismissal of a senior departmental official, while other accounts also referred to complaints about fees, class schedules and administrative decisions.
Videos from the scene show a uniformed man arriving with a woman identified in reports as a university official. A heated exchange quickly turns into a physical confrontation. The man is seen striking a protester with a stick before being surrounded by members of the crowd.
As the scuffle intensifies, he draws a pistol and points it toward the students. The footage then shows him raising the weapon and discharging it into the air. Police officers and campus personnel move in as the situation becomes increasingly tense.
No injuries were reported from the firing.
Students demanded immediate legal action and questioned why an armed military officer had entered a civilian university protest. Senior Islamabad police officers later reached the campus and assured the protesters that the matter would be addressed.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the officer was taken into military custody and disciplinary proceedings were initiated. The inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding his arrival at the campus, the physical clash and the discharge of the weapon.
Accounts differ on several details leading up to the confrontation, including the nature of the dispute inside the university and the conduct of people involved before the officer drew his pistol. Those claims remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts until the inquiry is completed.
The incident has drawn widespread attention across Pakistan after the video circulated on social media. Much of the public discussion has focused on accountability, the safety of students and the use of a weapon in an educational institution.
At the time of the first reports, no detailed public statement had been issued by Islamabad Police, the university administration or the military. Any further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
Image: Sarhad University/Business Recorder
Source: Business Recorder