RAWALPINDI: At least 150 protesters are arrested as police used tear gas to disperse students demonstrating against the alleged rape of a Lahore student. The protests erupted after reports of the incident went viral on social media.
Last week, a private college student in Lahore alleged she was raped, prompting the police to arrest a security guard linked to the incident. Outraged students mobilized on social media, staging protests outside various colleges in Lahore in recent days.
On Monday, clashes between students and college security guards resulted in injuries to at least 28 individuals. The situation escalated as students expressed their anger over the alleged rape.
Maryam Nawaz Termed this as “Fabricated News”
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz dismissed the allegations, labeling them as “fabricated news” and blaming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for spreading false reports. Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) Director Agha Tahir and other officials also termed the claims “baseless.”
In Rawalpindi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar reported the arrest of around 150 violent protesters. He assured that the situation was now under control.
“We did not want to arrest students,” SSP Asghar stated. “However, if anyone takes the law into their hands under the guise of protests, we will take legal action.” He emphasized that the police were investigating all aspects of the protests.
A significant police presence was deployed on major roads outside the colleges to maintain order. “All closed roads have been reopened,” SSP Asghar added. The Rawalpindi Police’s X account confirmed that officers were stationed across the city to manage potential unrest.
Police Demanded Parents
The police urged parents to keep their children away from illegal activities, warning that legal repercussions could jeopardize their future. Meanwhile, students from Barani University in Rawalpindi also protested on campus against the incident.
The violent protests quickly spread to other Punjab cities, where students from both public and private institutions engaged in ransacking and torching several PGC campuses. Tragically, these protests resulted in the death of a college security guard in the Gujrat district, leading to the booking of at least 185 individuals for murder.
In Lahore, students gathered outside Punjab College’s Campus 11, where they set fire to the parking area, shattered windows, and damaged doors. Authorities named more than 450 individuals in cases filed regarding the attacks on PGC campuses in Lalamusa and Kharian.
Anti-Harassment Rally
The Progressive Students’ Collective, a student organization, held an anti-harassment rally on Tuesday. They announced plans to continue protests until their demands were met, though specifics of those demands were not disclosed.
In a related development, the Lahore High Court (LHC) summoned Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar, Advocate General of Punjab Khalid Ishaq, and the registrar of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) over a similar case. The court took up a petition concerning alleged harassment of female students in Punjab’s educational institutions.
During the hearing, the presiding judge criticized the IG Punjab for allowing the victim’s identity to be publicized. “The Anti-Rape Act does not permit the publication of the girl’s name,” she remarked. The court ordered all officers to appear with relevant records for further proceedings. The petition seeks an investigation into such incidents and demands protection for female students in educational settings
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