Pakistan: Protests Erupt in Punjab Following Alleged Campus Rape

Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province closed all schools and universities for two days on Friday, affecting approximately 18 million students, in an effort to contain escalating protests over an alleged on-campus rape, Dawn reported yesterday.

The unrest began after reports of the incident at the Punjab Group of Colleges in Lahore circulated on social media, leading to demonstrations in multiple cities.

Tensions peaked when a security guard died during clashes between protesters and police in Gujrat. In total, over 250 individuals were arrested in Rawalpindi as police employed tear gas to disperse students who ransacked a college building. The government has denied any occurrence of rape and is pursuing arrests of nearly three dozen people for spreading misinformation.

Concurrently, the political party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan organized protests nationwide against proposed constitutional amendments, further complicating the situation.

The Punjab Government imposed Section 144 to prohibit gatherings and maintain public order, as protests have historically been rare in Pakistan due to societal stigma surrounding sexual violence. The Lahore High Court has summoned key officials to address concerns about harassment in educational institutions.