The Baloch Council at Punjab University has strongly condemned the “brutal assault” on Baloch and Pashtun students by elements affiliated with a religious group on Wednesday.
According to the Council, around 30 aggressive individuals, identified as members of the religious organization, known as Jamiyat targeted Baloch students during a sports event in the Gender Studies Department. The assailants carried out a violent attack, leaving eight Baloch students severely injured. Simultaneously, similar aggression was reported in another college affiliated with the same religious group, where 12 Pashtun students sustained serious injuries.
As the Baloch and Pashtun students gathered outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office to protest and demand the arrest of the perpetrators, the Lahore Police University Administration reportedly responded with force. A crackdown ensued, resulting in the arrest of numerous Baloch and Pashtun students.
Expressing deep concern, the Baloch Council stressed that they strongly condemn this act of violence. They demanded the immediate release of the Baloch and Pashtun students detained unlawfully, holding the Lahore administration accountable for their safety.
The Baloch Council has called for a peaceful resolution to the situation and urged the authorities to take swift action against the perpetrators. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with various student organizations and human rights activists joining the chorus for justice and the protection of minority students at Punjab University.