CM orders 'college rape' probe in 48 hours

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formed a seven-member committee to investigate allegations of sexual assault involving a first-year student at a private college in Lahore.

The committee, led by Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, has been given 48 hours to submit a detailed report on the incident.

The move comes amid widespread protests across campuses in Punjab after reports of the alleged incident surfaced on social media.

The protests began outside the Punjab College's Gulberg campus on Monday and quickly escalated as students clashed with police, leaving 28 people injured, including four officers.

Despite an initial pause, the protests resumed the next day, with students gathering outside the Punjab Assembly on Mall Road demanding justice for the alleged victim.

Reports claimed that a security guard at the college had raped a first-year student in the basement. Protesters accused the college administration of covering up the incident by removing CCTV footage.

Demonstrations spread to Multan, Jahanian, and Zafarwal, where protesters blocked roads, set fires, and clashed with police.

In response, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat suspended the registration of the Punjab College for Women, Gulberg campus and vowed a thorough investigation.

Despite this, protests continued, fuelled by students' frustration over what they perceived as a lack of transparency.

The situation took a turn when the alleged victim's family publicly denied the assault.

In a video with Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shehrbano Naqvi, the girl's father and uncle explained that she had suffered a back injury from a fall at home and was in the ICU.

The family expressed shock at the protests and urged the public to stop spreading misinformation.

ASP Naqvi confirmed that medical records supported the family's statement, adding that the girl had been hospitalised 10 days before the alleged assault.

The police have since arrested a security guard at the college but have not found any evidence of rape.

The Punjab Police issued a statement urging restraint and called on the public to provide credible information if available.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari also urged caution, emphasising that no formal complaint had been lodged and that accusations should not be made without evidence. The committee's findings are expected to lead to further action on the issue.