On February 12, 2026, student groups on the campus of Abbottabad University of Science and Technology clashed violently, leaving one dead and two others injured.

Witnesses reported that two groups of students from the Management Sciences and Mathematics department engaged in a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical fight on campus. University administration and security personnel escorted students off campus. As soon as they exited, violence, including gunfire, erupted again. Abdullah Khan, a leader of the Insaf Students Federation, was shot and killed during the exchange.

The killing sparked widespread student protests against what demonstrators described as “administrative paralysis and a flawed security response.” In response to the unrest, university authorities abruptly suspended exams and announced an indefinite closure of the campus.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and lethal clashes between student groups on campus. SAR sends condolences to Abdullah Khan’s family, colleagues, and community. Scholars at Risk calls on all parties to exercise restraint and to avoid violence. Such incidents create a chilling effect on the academic community, threatening the personal safety of scholars. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/World/20260214/4416450.html https://tribune.com.pk/story/2592664/remand-granted-in-university-murder-case https://tribune.com.pk/story/2592050/one-killed-two-hurt-in-campus-shooting