At least 28 students, including several girls, from multiple campuses of the Punjab Group of Colleges in Lahore were injured on Monday during protests against the alleged on-campus rape of a female student. The clashes occurred after police resorted to baton charges to disperse the demonstrators, who had blocked roads and set fire to furniture in their demand for justice. The injured students were taken to Services Hospital, with one in critical condition, according to a Rescue 1122 official.
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The protests began after reports surfaced on social media alleging that a female student at the Gulberg girls’ campus was raped by a security guard in the college’s basement. Students from various campuses quickly gathered to demand action, accusing the administration of negligence. Sharaz Abbas, a student involved in the protests, expressed frustration over the situation, claiming that the Punjab police used excessive force, including on female students. “The police brutally assaulted us, even inside the campus,” he said, vowing that the protests would continue until justice is served.
#PAKWatch🇵🇰:
Student protests have ERUPTED at the Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) Campus 10 in Lahore, Pakistan. The protests began over the alleged sexual assault of a female student.
PAK = NO RULE OF LAW = CHAOS.pic.twitter.com/6o6lCARDfJ
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) October 14, 2024
It is evident that the Women’s March has a political agenda. Even after a shocking rape case at a Lahore college (Punjab College), no feminist groups or organizers have shown up to protest or speak out, exposing their questionable motives!!#Lahore pic.twitter.com/y1X148X9Wt
— Malik Zarrar (@malikzarrar92) October 14, 2024
🚨🇵🇰SECURITY GUARD ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED RAPE OF COLLEGE STUDENT IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN
A security guard at a private college in Lahore’s Gulberg has been arrested for allegedly raping a first-year student in the college’s basement during school hours.
The guard fled the scene but… pic.twitter.com/q20sSrpapm
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 14, 2024
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
Senior police officer Faisal Kamran stated that officers had no choice but to intervene as students were demanding the custody of the college principal and could have posed a threat to him and other staff members. Kamran confirmed the arrest of the accused security guard but mentioned that the victim or her family had yet to file an official complaint. The investigation is ongoing, and no formal verification of the rape allegations has been made so far.
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Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari acknowledged that no official rape report had been lodged with the college. She urged anyone with verified information to come forward and cooperate with the government, assuring that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is closely monitoring the situation. Bokhari criticized the politicization of the issue and stressed that the suspect has been in police custody since Sunday.
