GG NewsBureau
Islamabad, 25 August :A major controversy has emerged in Pakistan after a Pakistan Army officer, Lt Col Asfandyar Wali, fired shots in the air during a student protest at Islamabad’s Sarhad University. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has sparked a debate over the legal authority and boundaries of the military in dealing with civilian unrest.
The episode unfolded on Monday when students at Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology protested against rising fees, departmental leadership, and irregular classes. The situation escalated when Dr Aina, the head of student affairs and wife of Lt Col Wali, got into a heated argument with the students. In response to the commotion, Dr Aina called her husband to the campus.
Upon arrival, Lt Col Wali confronted student demonstrators, and according to eyewitness accounts, struck an individual with a stick before drawing his service pistol and firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd. University police soon arrived to escort him off the premises.
The Pakistan Army has taken Wali into custody and initiated disciplinary proceedings under its Code of Conduct. A formal inquiry has begun, with the military emphasizing its commitment to discipline and accountability regardless of rank.
The incident has divided public opinion in Pakistan. Some social media users defended the officer’s actions as a husband protecting his wife, while others condemned it as an abuse of military power and a dangerous precedent for civilian-military relations. Journalists and commentators have called for strong action against Wali, arguing that using a service weapon to intimidate students is unacceptable.
The Pakistan Army has maintained that the law applies equally to all, and promised that any responsible individuals will be held accountable following due process.
The case has reignitedebate on the military’s influence in Pakistan’s civil life, with many calling for clear boundaries and legal safeguards for handling campus unrest.
