The brutal crackdown by Punjab police on students protesting an alleged rape at a private college in Gulberg has left at least 28 injured, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about the Paki authority’s handling of the incident. The protest, triggered by reports that a security guard raped a female student, has been met with denials, conflicting narratives, and outright repression.
While provincial officials initially dismissed the rape allegations as “false claims circulating on social media,” Punjab’s Higher Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat contradicted the narrative by promising justice to the protesting students. This inconsistency reflects the deepening confusion among authorities, who appear more concerned with damage control than addressing the students’ grievances.
A Potential Cover-Up
The incident took a darker turn as Punjab police unleashed violence to disperse students, chasing them into nearby shopping plazas and residences, and beating them mercilessly with batons. Videos circulating on social media show riot police storming the campus and attacking students who were demanding a fair investigation into the rape allegations.
The students claimed that the college administration attempted to cover up the incident by deleting CCTV footage, raising further suspicions about the involvement of higher authorities. However, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari denied the occurrence of any rape, stating that police inquiries found no evidence. Lahore DIG Operations Faisal Kamran echoed this denial, claiming the allegations were fabricated to incite unrest.
Despite these dismissals, Education Minister Rana Hayat visited the campus and assured students of action against the administration if it was proven that recordings were tampered with. Footage of Hayat standing among students and ordering police to halt their brutal crackdown circulated widely, reinforcing concerns over the authority’s inconsistent approach to the situation.
Government Involvement and State Complicity
The violent police response mirrors a pattern of repression familiar in Pakistan, where authorities frequently resort to brute force to suppress dissent. Just as the Pakistan Army has routinely silenced voices of dissent in Pak-occupied-Balochistan with violence, Punjab’s police acted with similar brutality against these young protesters, further eroding public trust in state institutions.
The Punjabi Army backed-government’s response reveals a deeply entrenched alliance between the college administration, law enforcement, and political elites. The fact that the college in question belongs to a powerful PML-N figure, Mian Amir, shows an orchestrated cover-up, underscoring how power dynamics often determine the pursuit—or obstruction—of justice in Pakistan.
The students have vowed to continue their protests until a transparent inquiry is conducted. They also called for a boycott of Punjab College, demanding parents withdraw their children to pressure the administration and government into taking the allegations seriously.
Probe Committee Formed Amid Public Outrage
In response to growing public outrage, the puppet government announced the formation of a “high-powered” committee to investigate the alleged rape. Led by the chief secretary, the committee includes top officials from education, home, and health departments. However, skepticism remains high, with many fearing the probe is merely a delaying tactic to diffuse public anger without delivering justice.
Despite official attempts to downplay the incident, the unfolding events highlight the systemic rot within Pakistan’s institutions, where the powerful operate with impunity while ordinary citizens—especially students—face repression.