NUST removes ‘shoot without warning’ signs amid widespread criticism

Legal experts insist no law permits security team of any university to open fire on anyone

ISLAMABAD: The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), one of the country’s leading universities, took down warning signs that claimed ‘intruders will be shot without a warning’ from its boundary walls following sharp criticism, particularly, on social media.

The university, which manages its own security and is located in sector H-12 of the capital, put up the signs a few months ago causing an uproar followed by legal experts terming the signs illegal.



The controversial sign, written in Urdu, read, “Any person or persons seen climbing the wall of NUST or making holes in the wall in an attempt to gain access will be shot without warning.”

The decision of the university was condemned for not being lawful and taken without consideration.

Old ‘shoot without warning’ sign that the NUST administration earlier used to keep intruders outside. PHOTO: ARSALAN ALTAF/EXPRESS

The university, however, has taken down the contentious sign and replaced it with the following, “Unauthorised persons who gain access or try gaining access to the premises of NUST will face strict legal action.”

New warning sign. PHOTO: ARSALAN ALTAF/EXPRESS

Speaking to The Express Tribune, university officials confirmed that the warning signs were altered after objections were voiced and questions were raised over its language and the legality pertaining to it.

According to the university’s Chief Security Officer, Colonel (retd) Aftab, the warning was emblazoned on the walls to discourage trespassers, especially those from a katchi abadi (slum) located next to the university in Sector I-12, from illegally acquiring entry to the univeristy campus.



“We took the step because some people from the katchi abadi (slum) were removing brick slabs from the boundary walls,” he said.

The security officer also insisted that the ‘shoot without warning’ signs were actually effective and helped in resolving the issue.

“There are some 11,000 people in the university, out of which 8,000 are our students. Their security is our responsibility,” said Colonel (retd) Aftab.

Confessing that the language of the sign could have been seen as 'harsh' for some, he said, “It is not harsh... if you keep the safety of human lives in your mind.”

The katchi abadi (slum) near NUST. PHOTO: ARSALAN ALTAF/EXPRESS

A high-rank police official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it was okay for the university to have such signs since military colleges and officers were also part of NUST.

“The university is headed by an army officer while many other army officers get training here, which ultimately makes it a military installation,” the police officer added.

Nevertheless, legal experts believe that no law in the country permits the security team of any university to open fire on anyone, even if the person is an intruder.

“NUST has no licence to shoot anyone. Only the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) such as police, Rangers and the armed forces are officially allowed to shoot without a warning,” said a Supreme Court Advocate Major (retd) Akhtar Shah.

On certain occasions, for example, if there is an attempted bank robbery, security guards can shoot in self-defence. The same goes for private institutions or universities, he explained.

Barrister Masroor Shah also criticised NUST’s shoot without warning signs.

“NUST is not a military installation. It is an academic institution. Sensitive installations can have a cover of shooting without warning, but in NUST’s case, there is no legal justification for it,” he concluded.