Clashes erupted Thursday when police used tear gas and batons to disperse student protesters at a private university in Dhok Gangal, Rawalpindi. The protests broke out after allegations of an assault at a college in Lahore spread across Punjab, sparking outrage.
Tensions intensified as students forced their way through campus gates, prompting police to intervene. Demonstrators threw stones as police moved to control the crowd, escalating the confrontation.
The protests come amid claims of a sexual assault on campus that have ignited demands for accountability and safety reforms from students and activists. While the college administration and the Punjab government deny the alleged assault, the student’s family has also refuted the claims, adding to the public confusion.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has dismissed the assault claims as false, explaining that an investigation found the student had been hospitalized due to a fall. She criticized the protests, accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of exploiting the incident to fuel a misleading campaign during the SCO summit. The chief minister pledged action against those spreading misinformation.
