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PSC Stages Anti-Harassment Rally After Clashes Over Alleged On-Campus Rape
Progressive Students Collective held an anti-harassment rally in Lahore after 28 students were injured in clashes during protests against the alleged rape of a student.
ND
by News Desk
2024-10-15
PSC Stages Anti-Harassment Rally After Clashes Over Alleged On-Campus Rape

The Progressive Students Collective (PSC) organized an anti-harassment rally in Lahore on Tuesday, following violent clashes that left 28 students injured. The clashes occurred during protests over the alleged rape of a female student at a local college campus, sparking widespread outrage and demands for justice.

 

The incident, which came to light on Sunday, resulted in the arrest of a security guard after the news went viral on social media. The police confirmed that an investigation into the matter was underway. However, they clarified that a First Information Report (FIR) had not been registered, as the victim's family had yet to come forward to file a formal complaint.

 

Mobilized by the shocking allegations, students took to social media, organizing protests outside various educational institutions in Lahore on Monday. The protests quickly escalated into violent clashes between students and the college's security personnel, followed by confrontations with police officers. The violence resulted in multiple injuries on both sides, with emergency services confirming that a clash occurred at the Hafeez Centre Punjab College Campus.

 

PSC's Anti-Harassment Rally and Demands

The PSC held a rally on Tuesday, starting at Government College University and proceeding to the Punjab Assembly. The protest was aimed at demanding accountability and safety measures in response to the previous day’s violence and the alleged rape incident. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) earlier that morning, PSC called for supporters to join the protest, which began at 10:30 AM.

 

Protesters demanded:

 

A comprehensive investigation into the violence against students and the alleged rape incident at Punjab College.

The formation of independent anti-harassment committees across all educational institutions, ensuring the inclusion of student representatives, particularly female students.

A widespread awareness campaign on harassment laws and procedures, with educational guidelines incorporated into the curriculum.

College Director's Response

In response to the allegations, Agha Tahir Ijaz, Director of Punjab Group of Colleges, issued a video statement on Tuesday, denying the claims. He confirmed that the college had reviewed CCTV footage from the campus but found no evidence of the incident. According to Ijaz, the college cooperated fully with police, providing them with all surveillance recordings. He also stated that no report of the alleged crime had been filed with any local hospitals.

 

Addressing the protesters’ demands for camera footage, Ijaz explained that all recordings had been handed over to the authorities. He further added that the basement, where the alleged incident was said to have occurred, had no doors, and students’ claims about a shut entrance did not match the layout of the college’s Gulberg campus.

 

Legal Action and Calls for Government Accountability

In addition to the protests, a Lahore citizen, Azam Butt, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) calling for a formal investigation into the growing reports of harassment within educational institutions. The petition highlighted the alleged suicide of a female student at Punjab University and mentioned recent protests against harassment at another government university in Lahore.

 

The petition criticized the Punjab government for its lack of action on these incidents, stressing that it is the government’s responsibility to protect female students. Butt requested that the court intervene and order a thorough investigation into the harassment cases while ensuring the safety of students across the province’s educational institutions.

 

The rally, protests, and legal proceedings signal the growing frustration among students, activists, and citizens regarding the safety of female students and the lack of accountability for incidents of harassment on campus. As the investigation continues, the demands for systemic reforms in the educational system grow louder, with PSC and others calling for tangible change to protect students from such atrocities.

 
Tagged:

StudentSafety

LahoreProtest

JusticeForStudents

AntiHarassment

PSCProtest

EndHarassment
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