Islamabad: At least 12 girls were injured today in a stampede caused by a shootout near a women's college in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said.

The incident occurred in Government Waqar-un-Nisa Girls College located at Sir Sayyiad Chowk area of Rawalpindi. Shots were heard as police exchanged fire with car thieves, which created panic as students thought it could be a terrorist attack, Regional Police Officer Fakhar Sultan said.