KARACHI: Twelve students of Dawood University of Engineering and Technology were booked and arrested on terrorism, rioting and other charges on Wednesday after violence erupted during a protest demonstration by DUET students against the varsity vice chancellor on New M.A. Jinnah Road, officials said.

Police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters who had gathered outside the varsity against lack of facilities at the varsity, suspending traffic on the main road on a third consecutive day.The protesting students told the media that when they had staged a demonstration a couple of days ago, the police authorities had promised them that they would take up their demands before the DUET administration but they did not fulfil the promise. It prompted them to continue their protest but the police allegedly subjected them to high-handedness at behest of the DUET administration again, the students alleged.

However, Jamshed Quarter SP Akhtar Farooq said the protesters allegedly resorted to firing on the policemen, hurled stones at vehicles and indulged in riot, resulting in injuries to a policeman. He claimed that the police took the action in response and arrested 12 students. “The police also arrested one dozen students over charges of terrorism,” he said.

He said the police registered an FIR against the 12 students under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and 147 (riots), 148 (armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly is guilty of offence committed) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Pakistan Penal Code.