The vice-chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad escaped unhurt after a man opened fire on him during the flag-hoisting ceremony in connection with the Independence Day on Sunday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to sources, the accused fired four bullets which hit the roof of the hall where the ceremony was taking place.
Police arrested the accused and seized the pistol, saying the target of the firing was the vice-chancellor.
Police said the accused was a daily wages employee of the Computer Sciences Department of the university, who has not been paid salaries for a number of months.
Other employees and students overpowered him after he fired the four bullets.
The flag-hoisting ceremony was taking place in front of the Central Library of the university.
Police said the bullets were fired as soon as the ceremony was over.
Girl dies after hit by truck
A girl was killed and two other people were injured in road accident inside the Quaid-i-Azam University of Islamabad on Sunday.
The girl came to the university to visit her friends but was hit by the truck and died on the spot.
The university road was experiencing traffic rush after the closure of the China Embassy Road.
Reporters Farzana Siddique and Kifayat Ali Shah