Viral video: UAP official who pointed gun at student suspended

Varsity forms high-level committee to probe the incident

PESHAWAR: After a varsity official was seen physically abusing a student and pointing a gun at his face in a video which has since gone viral, the official was on Tuesday suspended by the university.

In the video, University of Agricultural Peshawar (UAP) Assistant Administrative Officer Abid Anwar could be seen physically abusing and misbehaving with a student in the presence of other students and staffers. He pointed a handgun to the face of the student and threatened him while using abusive language.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) Caretaker Governor and Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani took notice of the incident and directed a probe into the incident and directed the varsity administration to submit a report as soon as possible.

According to official documents of the UAP, the varsity has constituted a departmental inquiry committee to probe the incident between a student of Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA-Hons) eighth semester and Anwar.

Natural Sciences Dean Prof Dr Siad Wahab was appointed as the convener of the probe committee while other members included Professor Dr Noorul Amin, one member from Agricultural Department and the administration director.

The committee has been directed to submit its report to varsity’s vice chancellor as soon as possible.

According to the situation report of the incident, the teaching director along with two employees of a private bank had made arrangements to receive registration renewal fees from enrolled students at the main auditorium of the university.

To maintain discipline, students were being facilitated on a first-come-first-serve basis.

One student apparently broke the queue to which another student objected to the indiscipline. Anwar apparently tried to convince the students that nobody was allowed to violate the rules. This, though, failed to placate the complaining students who became aggressive.

The statement further stated that due to the settlement of the issue none of the parties had lodged a complaint against each other with the university administration or the campus police.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a UAP student who did not wish to be named said that students had queued up for renewing their admission at the auditorium hall.

However, when the turn came for the student involved in the altercation, the administration officer apparently called another student. This led to the ignored student to protest against the irregularity.

At this admin officer and security head, Anwar allegedly beat the student.

The BBA student shared that the admin officer pointed a gun at his face and threatened him.

With the UAP administration taking note of the incident on Tuesday, it suspended Anwar and formed an inquiry committee to probe the incident.

The university also launched a one-window operation for university student’s to renew their registration.

UAP Administrative Media Director Muhammad Ilyas confirmed that the varsity had launched a probe into the matter.

He added that as an initial action, they have suspended the officer involved, assuring that the incident would be thoroughly investigated.

If the officer is found guilty of physically abusing a student for no valid reason, Ilyas said that the university will take action against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2018.