SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: March 07, 2022

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of Punjab

Region & Country:Southern Asia | Pakistan

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On March 7, 2022, police violently dispersed employees of the University of Punjab (PU) as they engaged in a nonviolent demonstration off campus.

The PU employees had gathered to demand payment of a so-called disparity reduction allowance – government-issued payments to civil employees – that had not yet been paid. Police arrived during the protest and charged protesters with batons and used teargas to disperse them. Some protesters responded by throwing rocks at police.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violence during an off-campus protest by university staff. While state authorities have a responsibility to maintain order and safety, they must do so in a manner that is proportionate and does not violate fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. 

Sources:

*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).

Pakistan Press International

https://nation.com.pk/2022/03/07/police-baton-charge-protesting-pu-employees-in-lahore/

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/644296-Police-baton-charge-protesting-PU-employees-in-Lahore 

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/939574-disparity-reduction-allowance-date-issue-police-baton-charge-teargas-pu-protesting-employees