Pakistan Army Officer Allegedly Fires During Student Protest After Wife Seeks His Intervention
Officer allegedly fires during student protest.
A Pakistan Army officer allegedly opened fire into the air during a confrontation with protesting students at Sarhad University’s Rawat campus near Islamabad on Monday, August 24. Videos circulating on social media showed a uniformed man carrying a firearm and engaging with students during the protest, after which shots were reportedly fired. The incident has triggered questions over the presence of an armed military officer at a university demonstration and has prompted an inquiry by the Pakistan Army.
The protest reportedly began over issues involving university administration, including fees, class schedules and the handling of departmental matters. Students had gathered on the campus and were demanding action over their grievances. According to reports, the situation escalated after Dr Aina Ilyas, identified in some reports as a university official, became involved in an argument with students and called her husband, a serving Army officer, to the campus.
The officer, identified in reports as Lt Col Asfandyar Wali, arrived in military uniform. Accounts of what happened next differ in some details, but videos appear to show the officer carrying a stick and confronting students before the situation became physical. Students can be seen surrounding the officer, while the officer subsequently drew his firearm and discharged shots into the air. Reports said the firing caused panic on the campus as students and security personnel attempted to control the situation.
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According to sources cited by Pakistani media, the officer was subsequently taken into military custody and disciplinary proceedings were initiated. The Army has reportedly ordered an inquiry into the incident and said those found responsible would face action under its disciplinary and accountability system. A separate report said senior Islamabad police officials reached the university following the confrontation and assured students that authorities would take appropriate action.
The incident has generated widespread discussion in Pakistan, particularly over whether a serving military officer should have intervened in a university dispute involving civilian students. Dawn reported that the uniformed individual could face disciplinary action, while noting that there had been no immediate official comment from police or the military at the time of its report. The video footage has meanwhile circulated widely online, intensifying scrutiny of the confrontation and the use of a firearm on a university campus.
The inquiry is expected to establish the sequence of events, including what led to the confrontation, why the officer was present at the protest and the circumstances in which the firearm was discharged. While reports indicate that the shots were fired into the air rather than directly at students, the incident has raised concerns about the escalation of a campus protest into a confrontation involving an armed military officer. Further action is expected after investigators complete their assessment of the incident.
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