What Happened: Over 250 protesters were arrested in Rawalpindi as violent student protests erupted across Punjab over an alleged rape case, which officials have labeled as fabricated.
What you need to know: At least 250 violent protesters were arrested in Rawalpindi as police used tear gas to disperse students demonstrating against the alleged rape of a student in Lahore. Last week, the alleged rape of a private college student gained attention on social media, leading to the arrest of a security guard allegedly involved. Enraged students mobilized on social media and staged protests outside various colleges in Lahore, with 28 injured in clashes with police and security guards.
What more: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz called the alleged rape “fabricated news,” accusing the PTI of spreading false reports. Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) Director Agha Tahir also dismissed the incident as baseless. Rawalpindi SSP Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar confirmed around 150 protesters were arrested, and the situation is now under control, with police deployed at key locations.
Also: Police warned parents to keep their children away from illegal activities, and later in the day, another 100 protesters were arrested. Protests spread to other cities in Punjab, with students damaging and setting fire to PGC campuses. In Gujrat, a college security guard was killed, leading to 185 individuals being booked in a murder case. Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court summoned the Punjab Inspector General of Police and other officials to address the alleged harassment of female students and questioned how sensitive material related to the case was allowed to circulate online. The court is pushing for an investigation to protect female students in Punjab’s educational institutions.