LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has announced the formation of a full court bench to address various incidents of harassment against female students, deeming the matter of significant importance.
LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum directed authorities on Friday to take the statement of the alleged victim linked to the widely reported “rape” of a private college student in Lahore, an incident that has sparked ongoing violent protests across the province.
In Rawalpindi alone, nearly 400 individuals protesting against harassment and sexual abuse in educational institutions have been arrested, with Section 144 imposed to ban gatherings and demonstrations. Hundreds more have been booked in Lahore and other cities for violating this order.
As unrest continues to grip Punjab, all private and public schools, universities, and colleges in the province remained closed today. The LHC is addressing three separate incidents, including the protests related to the alleged rape, a reported suicide at Punjab University, and a harassment case at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU).
During the hearing, Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwer and other officials presented a complete report to the court. Chief Justice Neelum expressed her dissatisfaction with the police chief over the failure to prevent viral videos on social media that incited protests and violence. She questioned the delay in contacting relevant agencies to restrict the circulation of these videos.
IGP Anwer informed the court that they had reached out to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. When asked about the provincial government’s involvement, the Punjab advocate general mentioned that an assistant superintendent of police had met the family of the college student linked to the alleged rape and reviewed CCTV footage.
“Every child protesting claims that rape has occurred, but no one has evidence,” he stated, while also acknowledging failures on the authorities’ part. CJ Neelum remarked on the opportunism surrounding the unrest, stating, “It is quite unfortunate if all this happened due to fake news.”
The chief justice inquired about the number of harassment complaints at LCWU, to which the government lawyer and college registrar reported only one complaint, leading to the suspension of the accused individual. CJ Neelum questioned whether students felt safe enough to return to college, urging authorities to restore parental trust.
She also ordered that men should not be present in areas where female students are located within educational institutions. Additionally, CJ Neelum directed authorities to collect a statement from the girl named in the alleged rape claims, warning against any pressure on her.
The court has established a committee, headed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, to investigate all three cases. The proceedings were initiated after Lahore resident Azam Butt filed an application highlighting the suicide case at Punjab University and reported on-campus harassment and rape allegations.
The ongoing protests have led to students ransacking a hostel, damaging vehicles, and throwing stones. The unrest prompted a strong response from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who announced a crackdown on those spreading misinformation about the alleged rape incident.
