Daily Times

LAHORE: Seven students were injured as clashes broke out between two groups of students at Punjab University on Tuesday.

The Pashtun Students Federation (PSF) at Punjab University organized a cultural programme on Tuesday in celebration of Pashtun culture. They were threatened by members of Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) who set their camp on fire. The setting ablaze of the camp ensued violence between the two parties. In result of which, five PSF students and two members of IJT were injured.

The police were forced to fire tear gas to control the situation. The purpose of the event was to spread awareness about Pashtun culture. They prepared performances and displayed different stalls showcasing Pashtun traditional materials.

A controversial ad and subsequent crackdown on the Pashtuns and Afghan nationals has earned the Punjab government scathing criticism on social media with some calling it ‘racial profiling’ and ‘stereotyping’ of one ethnic group.

After the controversy went viral on social media, politicians and lawmakers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa jumped into the fray, heaping scorn on the Punjab government for ‘demonising’ the Pashtuns and hurting the sentiments of people in K-P.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has also condemned the “discriminatory and racial profiling” of Pashtuns, saying it would negatively affect the war against terrorism.