From Education Minister’s confession to ASP Sheherbano’s denial: How Punjab govt mishandled PGC rape incident

The handling of the alleged rape incident at Punjab College Campus 10 in Lahore's Gulberg area by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's government led to widespread confusion. 

Delay in identifying the victim

Authorities initially failed to verify the assault and delayed identifying the victim. While students rallied for justice, Punjab’s Education Minister backed their claims, only for the police to later dismiss the incident as “misinformation.”

The news of the alleged rape quickly went viral on social media, with claims that a security guard had sexually assaulted a first-year intermediate student in the college’s basement. 

Despite the incident reportedly occurring a week earlier, the victim’s family did not come forward to report the crime, according to police.

As student protests escalated, demanding the arrest of the accused security guard, he was found and arrested outside Lahore, according to DIG Operations Faisal Kamran. 

However, even as protests continued throughout the day, the police maintained they were unable to identify the victim.

The alleged deleted CCTV footage and Education Minister's statement

On Monday, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat joined the students' protests and endorsed their claims. He accused the college administration of tampering with evidence, stating, “The principal deleted video footage and turned off the cameras at the college.”

The minister further claimed that "videos exist of conversations between students, coordinators, and the principal." He vowed to ensure justice, stating, “We want to ensure our daughters are safe. I pledge that we will hang the perpetrators. We have already suspended the college’s registration.”

Hayat also alleged that the principal received more protection than the victim, and students were being threatened into silence.

During an assembly session, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan also mentioned the Education Minister’s statement and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. 

🎙️•Punjab Education Minister @RanaSikandarH confirmed PGC 'Campus 10' CCTV footage was deleted by Principal and students being threatened into silence. He also confirmed the registration has been suspended.
🎙️•Punjab Assembly Speaker @MalikMAhmadKhan highlighted the importance… pic.twitter.com/sbNrHY4x1t

— Faeza Dawood (@FaezaDawood) October 14, 2024

Students’ allegations

As confusion over the veracity of the claims persisted, clashes between police and protesting students led to 27 students being injured.

Students also shared alleged screenshots and recorded videos, accusing teachers of threatening them to remain silent. 

They claimed that a van driver and the security guard were involved in the incident, and that the college administration was attempting to cover it up.

Instead of promptly identifying the victim or updating the protesters about the investigation, authorities seemed more focused on pressuring students to end their protests and return to classes. This approach only fueled the unrest further.

By Monday evening, ASP Sheherbano Naqvi released a video statement alongside the victim’s father and uncle, describing the incident as “propaganda” and “misinformation.” 

The victim’s uncle revealed that the girl was in the ICU after falling down the stairs at home and that the false reports had caused severe mental distress for the family.

#PunjabCollege management is trying to cover up #Rape incident, claims a female student.

Protests erupted in different campuses of Punjab College and Lahore College for Women University against the alleged rape of a female student by a security guard. #Pakistan #Lahore… pic.twitter.com/ejJSQECqih

— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) October 14, 2024

Continuing protests despite police clarification

Despite police clarification, protests continued for a second day across multiple cities in Punjab, with students demanding justice for the alleged victim. 

They insisted that the college administration had deleted CCTV footage of the incident and that female staff witnessed the girl in a distressed state.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formed a six-member committee to investigate the incident and submit its findings within 48 hours.