On 24 August 2026, a student protest at Sarhad University’s Islamabad campus escalated into a confrontation reportedly involving gunfire and a serving military officer. Students were protesting in support of the suspended Head of Department, Dr. Jadoon Khan, following a dispute with the university’s HR official, Dr. Ana Atta, and were demanding her resignation.
The situation escalated when Dr. Ana Atta arrived at the protest and her husband, Lt. Col. Asfand Yar, a serving military officer, subsequently became involved in a confrontation with protesting students. Police responded following reports that firing had taken place against unarmed students. AIG Operations Hamza Humayun stated that the law would apply regardless of the identity or rank of the individual involved.
Lt. Col. Asfand Yar was reportedly taken into custody and disciplinary proceedings were initiated under military law, while an inquiry into the incident was opened. The outcome of these proceedings remains pending.
The incident raises concerns about the safety of students exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and expression, as the involvement of a serving military officer in the confrontation could have a chilling effect on student activism and the ability to raise grievances. The investigation and disciplinary proceedings remain ongoing, and their outcome will be important in assessing accountability for the incident and whether students can exercise these freedoms without fear of intimidation or disproportionate interference.