On 11 October 2024, a fake news spread that a 17-year-old female HSSC-I ICS student at Punjab College Gulberg campus 10 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan has been raped in the basement of the college building.[4][5][6][7] Allegedly, the victim was transferred to a nearby hospital and was said to have been shifted to the ICU in a critical condition.[8]
| Date | 11 October 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Punjab College for Women, 43 & 43A, Ghalib Road, Block E1, Gulberg III, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Also known as | PGC Campus 10 Rape |
| Type | Rape |
| Outcome | No evidence found to support the allegations of rape[1][2] |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 28[3][a] |
| Arrests | 1 |
Massive protests erupted in the premises of the city, especially in the various campuses of PGC spread across Lahore.[9][5] On 14 October 2024, one of the two suspects, a security guard working for the college, was arrested by the Punjab Police from Sialkot, while the other suspect, a van driver, was missing.[10] Aurat March, a women's rights group, requested the Punjab Government to take actions against the "atrocity."[11][12] On the same day, the registration of the college was suspended on the orders of the Provincial Minister of School Education Punjab Rana Sikandar Hayat.[13]
Incident
editAccording to the college students, on the morning of 11 October 2024, Friday, the college van driver reportedly tricked and locked the victim in the basement after successfully calling her down to tell her about the pending fees.[3][14] The security guard, whose name was given as Aun, raped the victim until a teacher heard her screams and came to rescue her.[15] The guard escaped while the victim was rushed to a hospital in a deteriorating condition.[16]
Protests
editMassive protests were observed in Lahore with severe clashes between the students and police.[17][18] 27 students were injured due to the baton charge with 1 student being shifted to the Services Hospital due to his critical condition. 4 police officers were injured during the counter-attack.[11][19][20] Many students and media personalities from all over the country started various online movements and hashtags for justice on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, X, etc. Protests erupted in major metropolitan cities including Rawalpindi, Sargodha etc. of Punjab on 16 and 17 October, rejecting the press conference of CM Punjab and demanding a through investigation. Protesters attacked PGC Buildings in some places as well. Police used brute force such as rubber bullets and tear gass shelling on protestors.
Aftermath
editThe college administration completely denied the allegations and instead called them "false claims" and "fake propaganda" to tarnish the Institute's reputation.[21] Mian Amer Mahmood, the owner of Punjab Group of Colleges, has not released any public statement regarding the allegations. Students who were said to have raised their voices for justice were either suppressed or suspended from the institute.
Due to the public unrest and mass protests conducted by the students, the Punjab Police was forced to arrest the suspect from Sialkot while the co-conspirator, the van driver, was on run.[22] The provincial minister of Education Punjab Rana Sikandar Hayat ordered the DIG Operations, Lahore, Faisal Kamran to seal the college and suspend its registration. Hayat claimed that the principal of the institute, Sadia Javaid, deleted the CCTV footage of the incident and pressurised the students to stay quiet. He later blamed the administration of mishandling the situation while encouraging the students and ensuring them that he was with them throughout the protests.[4][23] The provincial minister of Information Punjab Azma Bukhari, said in a press conference that the CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz was being "updated of the situation for every moment."
Investigation
editThe alleged sexual assault case involving a student at a private college in Lahore has stirred public outcry and widespread student protests. Reports initially surfaced on social media in October 2024, claiming a student was assaulted on campus. These claims led to student protests and calls for justice, which escalated as the case gained national attention.
In response, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formed a six-member investigative committee, which included senior officials to assess the incident. Lahore police also investigated, calling for any direct evidence but found none through CCTV footage or witness testimonies. Additionally, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) conducted an independent investigation, which also concluded there was no credible evidence supporting the allegations [24][25]
The student’s family clarified that her injuries were due to an accidental fall at home and denied any assault. They urged authorities to act against those spreading false information online, citing the stress and harm caused by the misinformation. Subsequently, the Punjab government initiated an inquiry to track the sources of the disinformation campaign on social media, aiming to hold individuals accountable for instigating public unrest through baseless claims[26][27]
The HRCP also criticized the police’s use of force on student protesters, emphasizing the need to address genuine concerns about campus safety and harassment, which may have fueled the intense reaction despite the lack of evidence in this specific case.[28][29]
References
edit- ^ "'No credible evidence' of alleged Lahore college rape, says HRCP". DAWN.COM. 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Punjab govt report clears sexual assault claims in Lahore college case". The Express Tribune. 15 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Lahore college protest: 28 students injured in clashes with police over alleged rape". The Times of India. 14 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ a b "First-Year Student Raped By Security Guard Inside Punjab College Gulberg Campus, Claim Students". The Friday Times. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Students in Pakistan continue protests against alleged Lahore campus rape". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Pakistan College Campus Shut After Students Protest Rape Reports". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Protest breaks out over alleged rape of student in Lahore". Aaj English TV. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ Gabol, Imran (13 October 2024). "Suspect held for allegedly raping college student in Lahore: police". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Police crackdown on student protesters amid rape reports at college in Punjab". The Express Tribune. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Security guard arrested in Punjab over alleged rape of college student". The Nation. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ a b Gabol, Imran (14 October 2024). "27 injured as students clash with security, police in Lahore protest over alleged rape". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ Staff, Images (15 October 2024). "'Justice must prevail': Celebrities outraged after alleged rape of Lahore college student". Images. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Lahore: Security guard arrested for raping college student". ARY NEWS. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Violent demonstrations break out at Lahore's Punjab Group of Colleges in response to a girl's rape". Abb Takk News. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "10 injured by police while protesting over Lahore college student's rape". Pakistan Today. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Female rape case: Punjab govt cancels registration of college campus". DialoguePakistan. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Pakistani students force closure of Lahore college campus amid protests over rape reports". Arab News PK. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Violent protest erupts at Lahore's Punjab College over alleged student's rape". Daily Ausaf. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Protests against alleged rape of college student held in Lahore". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Protests over disputed rape claims intensify in Lahore and spread across Punjab". Pakistan Today. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "'No rape at Campus 10'; Punjab College dismisses 'fake' reports". The Current Pk. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "27 injured as students clash with security team, police during protest against alleged rape in Lahore". Islamabad Post. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ PTI. "Lahore college protest: 28 students injured in clashes with police over alleged rape". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "HRCP mission finds no 'credible evidence' to back allegation of student's rape at Lahore college". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ our.correspondent (15 October 2024). "Punjab govt report clears sexual assault claims in Lahore college case". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ our.correspondent (15 October 2024). "Punjab govt report clears sexual assault claims in Lahore college case". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "CM Maryam orders probe into alleged student rape at Lahore college". 15 October 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ Gabol, Wajih Ahmad Sheikh | Imran (2 November 2024). "No evidence to support rape claims at Lahore college: HRCP". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "CM Maryam orders probe into alleged student rape at Lahore college". 15 October 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
Notes
edit- ^ From protests by students.
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