What Happened: Students at Lahore College for Women University protested against harassment and alleged administrative inaction on sexual assault cases.
What you need to know: The Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) suspended a senior official following harassment allegations made by a student. Several students protested against male staff, accusing them of harassment. The protest took place outside the Vice Chancellor’s office, where students held banners and chanted slogans, criticizing the administration for not acting on the harassment complaints.
What more: The complaint was lodged by a student, prompting the university administration to initiate an inquiry and suspend the accused official to ensure a fair investigation. A committee was formed to look into the harassment claims. Despite the inquiry, students planned another protest on Tuesday, but the university declared a local holiday, citing construction work. Entry and exit points of the campus were also closed on Monday after protesters tried to march on Jail Road.
Also: Protesters accused a clerk named Hamid of harassing two students and criticized the administration for remaining silent on the issue. They further alleged that several rape incidents had occurred on campus during 2022-23. One case involved a second-year student who was reportedly raped after attending an evening class last Thursday.
Additionally: The students expressed frustration, claiming that while the victims had left the university, the perpetrators remained at large. They called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to intervene, as LCWU’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Uzma Qureshi, had failed to take action despite being informed.