Université : affrontements à Multan – 10 janvier 2012

College clashes: Students groups faceoff on Emerson campus

The Express Tribune

January 10, 2012

MULTAN: Four people were seriously injured during a clash between rival student groups in Multan on Tuesday.

According to police officials, several police teams took over two hours to control the situation after a group of students belonging to the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) were involved in a scuffle with members of the Peoples Students Federation (PSF) outside Government Emerson College in Multan.

Cantt Superintendent Police Asif Shehzad told The Express Tribune that both student unions were actually trying to refrain from forming their student wings in Emerson College. Each group wanted the other to take the lead in speaking to the administration and negotiating their demands and both groups blamed the other for spreading ‘militancy’ on campus. “When we tried to mediate and calm the situation they started throwing bricks and opened fire. That was why we had to resort to tear gas shelling and baton charge,” Shehzad added.

The clash began when PSF activists barred MSF members from entering the college in the morning before a gathering for the restructuring of the MSF wing began. The PSF claimed that the MSF activists were carrying weapons and hence, were not allowed to enter. “Half of their people were sporting guns. How could we let them in?” said PSF member Asif Khan. PSF leaders also announced that they would not let the MSF come into the student government for Emerson College because the group was allegedly advocating ‘militancy’ among students. Read more…