The students’ protest against the rape incident at a Lahore college extended to other cities in Punjab on Tuesday, while the authorities tried to suppress the incident using different tactics in support of the influential Punjab Group of Colleges.
The protest erupted in Lahore on Monday after it was reported that a female student was raped by a security guard at the private college located in Gulberg. The college belongs to the Punjab Group of Colleges, whose owner is the well-known and influential business and media tycoon Mian Muhammad Amer.
According to Aajnews.com, the protest spread across the province on Tuesday, with students in Okara, Multan, Kamonki, and other cities joining in against the rape incident.
جو لوگ کہہ رہے ایسا واقعہ ہوا ہی نہیں وہ اِس بچی کا بیان سن لیں یہ کہہ رہی کہ متاثرہ بچی eyecare ہسپتال کے آئی سی یو میں ہے اور یہ لڑکی خود اُس کو مل چکی ہے
اب اُن کو شرم آنی چاہیے جو اِس کو جھوٹا پروپیگنڈہ کہہ رہے ہیںpic.twitter.com/q48uMFUOuc
— Shams Khattak (@Sh_am_92) October 14, 2024
On Monday, at least 20 people were injured in police action against the protesting students in Lahore.
Students from Punjab College Kamonki took to the streets, raising slogans against the incident and blocking GT Road, which led to long queues of vehicles.
Students of Punjab Group of Colleges Lahore started their protest in front of the Punjab Assembly, The police force is also deployed there.#JusticeForPGCStudent#punjabcollege pic.twitter.com/8bYnqftX22
— Adnan Abid (@adnanabid13) October 15, 2024
In Lahore, students from Government College University staged a sit-in in front of the Punjab Assembly.
A heavy police presence has been deployed in anticipation of possible protests by students from women’s universities and private colleges. The road adjacent to the private college was blocked with barricades.
Punjab Group of Colleges Campus 10 Lahore students’ protest turned violent after the State used shameful force against students. The protection of the life and honor of every citizen is the core responsibility of the state.#JusticeForPGCStudent #SindhRawadariMarch pic.twitter.com/oVk3C1eKIV
— Yaseen Rind (@myaseenrind) October 14, 2024
In Multan, students vandalized the girls’ branch of Bosan Road Puranji College, breaking down the main gate of the private college. Protesting students shouted slogans against the college administration.
It should be noted that the college administration is trying to suppress the incident by labeling it false, while the police have also claimed that the incident was falsely reported. The police presented the statement of the alleged victim’s father, in which he claimed that his daughter was not sexually assaulted at the college. However, the protesting students and the general public are skeptical about these claims, asserting that the Punjab Group of Colleges and its owner have significant influence, which is why a false narrative is being developed by the police to protect the group.
