Abbottabad [Pakistan], February 14 : Tensions flared at Abbottabad University of Science and Technology after the fatal shooting of a student leader forced authorities to abruptly halt examinations. The suspension came amid mounting anger over what many demonstrators described as administrative paralysis and a flawed security response, as reported by The Express Tribune.
According to The Express Tribune, invigilators had already handed out question papers in several rooms when an announcement ordered the exams to be cancelled. Staff moved swiftly to gather the papers back, while anxiety spread among students aware that protests were swelling at the main entrance. The university soon declared an indefinite closure as crowds intensified their chants against police and campus officials.
Protesters argued that the killing of Abdullah Khan, a figure associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had shattered any sense of safety within the institution. Witnesses said the young man was shot during a clash between rival groups, leaving two others wounded. By the time people grasped what had happened, the attackers had reportedly fled. The grief quickly turned into fury, with classmates, townspeople and members of the bereaved family occupying the gate and refusing to disperse.
Local political figures joined the gathering, including the Havelian tehsil chairman, who accused law-enforcement agencies of acting with what he called visible bias. Standing beside the registrar, he warned that if key suspects, whom protesters claim include relatives of an influential lawmaker, were not detained within 24 hours, major arteries such as the Karakoram Highway and Hazara Motorway would be blocked, as cited by The Express Tribune.
University representatives attempted to calm the situation, promising cooperation and support for legal proceedings. Yet many students remained unconvinced, arguing that assurances have followed previous episodes of campus violence without delivering accountability, as reported by The Express Tribune.