Over 150 arrested as violent protests over alleged Lahore rape spread to Rawalpindi
The police detained at least 250 protestors and deployed tear gas to break up student demonstrations, following an alleged rape case involving a student from Lahore.
The event came to light last week when reports of the alleged assault went viral on social media, which resulted in the arrest of a campus security guard who is thought to have been involved.
Outraged by the allegations, students organized protests on social media and gathered outside various colleges in Lahore over the past few days. On Monday, clashes with college security personnel and police resulted in injuries to at least 28 individuals.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz accused PTI of spreading “false reports” online and has labeled the allegations as “fabricated news.” Agha Tahir, the Director of the Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC), along with other officials, has described the incident as “baseless.”
Rawalpindi’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Hafiz Kamran Asghar, stated that around 150 violent protesters had been detained, emphasizing that the situation is now completely under control.
SSP Asghar noted that while they did not wish to arrest students, any attempts to disrupt public order under the guise of protests would result in legal consequences. “All aspects of the protest are under investigation,” he said, adding that a significant police presence has been established on major roads near colleges throughout the city.
The SSP confirmed that previously closed roads have been reopened and mentioned that police have been stationed at various locations across Rawalpindi.
The Rawalpindi Police issued a message on X, stating, “Rawalpindi Police is fully prepared to handle any law and order situation,” and urged parents to keep their children away from unlawful activities, warning that legal action could jeopardize their futures.
Additionally, students at Barani University in Rawalpindi held protests on campus regarding the incident.
Later, police spokesperson Sajjad Al Hasan reported that the arrested individuals were being questioned and indicated that, according to preliminary findings, the protesters did not belong to any organized student group.
Students from both public and private institutions are involved in violent protests that have spread across cities in Punjab. Multiple Punjab Group of Colleges campuses have seen acts of vandalism and arson.
These protests also lead to the death of a college security guard in Gujrat district, resulting in murder charges being filed against at least 185 individuals.
In Lahore, students gathered outside the Punjab College’s Campus 11, where they set fire to vehicles in the parking area, broke windows, and damaged doors. Over 450 people have been named in cases regarding attacks on and vandalism of PGC campuses in Gujrat’s Lalamusa and Kharian cities.
The Progressive Students’ Collective, a student organization that organized an anti-harassment rally on Tuesday, has announced plans to escalate protests “until and unless the demands of students are met,” although the specific demands have not been disclosed.
LHC Summons Punjab IG and College Registrar
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) regarding a similar case.
This move follows the LHC’s review of a petition concerning alleged harassment of female students in educational institutions in Punjab.
“The Anti-Rape Act prohibits the publication of the victim’s name. Was the IG Punjab so uninformed that he allowed the photos and videos to spread?” questioned the presiding judge during a single bench hearing.
“All officers are required to appear in court tomorrow with the relevant records,” the judge ordered.
The petition requests the court to mandate an investigation into such incidents and direct the Punjab government to ensure the safety of female students.
