Sarhad University, Peshawar, Pakistan (Picture from X)
The incident comes amid growing unrest in Pakistan, with protests and demonstrations also being reported from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan, adding to the challenges facing the country’s military and political establishment.
A Pakistan army officer opened fire into the air during a student protest at Sarhad University in Peshawar, triggering chaos and a scuffle on the campus, according to local media reports and videos circulating online. The officer, said to be a colonel, was the husband of a faculty member at Sarhad University, according to reports. Reports said the officer has been taken into custody, while the Pakistan army has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
He reportedly got into a heated confrontation with protesting students, which soon escalated into a physical scuffle. Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Videos shared by several social media accounts purportedly show the officer striking students with a stick amid the confrontation. As tensions escalated, he allegedly pulled out a pistol and initially pointed it towards the protesters before raising the weapon in the air. The officer was then seen firing shots into the air, sparking panic and further uproar on the university campus.