‘No evidence’: Lahore college girl sexually assaulted, says Punjab police

As protests continue over the alleged rape of a student, the Punjab Police has denied the allegations in this regard and said that as per the documents and evidence available to it, there is “no victim”.

A group of students gathered for a protest call outside a private college on Monday after reports of the alleged rape of a female student went viral on social media platforms.

At least 28 people were injured when the protest turned violent and clashes broke out between students and police.

Later the protest was postponed and it was decided to resume the demonstration today.

It is to be noted that the police had arrested a security guard of the college who was accused of raping the student and initiated an investigation into the matter.

However, the suspect denied the allegations, although police also failed to find any evidence to substantiate them.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) for Defense Shehrbano Naqvi, while talking to the hosts of Geo Pakistan on Tuesday, said that the girl named was 10 days prior to what is being referred to as the day of the incident , was hospitalized.

“Her medical reports are available, the records of the hospitals where she was admitted are also available, and information on how she fell while preparing for school in her own home is also available,” the said Officer.

The ASP discovered that two girls in college had the same names, one of them was completely fine while the other was the girl who was hospitalized.

Apart from them, the police have already announced that they have several platforms for reporting such cases in case there are any more victims, she said. “Any family that thinks there is a victim [should come forward]. Why should the police shy away from registering an FIR?”

The official also said that school administrators knew she had fallen at her own house and they were on board. “That’s why they’re managed.”

She said police have asked students who spread such “fake” news to share videos or evidence that a girl was “raped” because law enforcement has no evidence that anyone was subjected to sexual assault.

When asked about the CCTV footage of the incident being deleted, she replied that the police had nothing to do with it. Naqvi added that police are asking people to provide evidence so that police can take action.

Meanwhile, students staged a protest strike outside the Punjab Assembly despite heavy police deployment at Cheering Cross Mall Road.

The protesters, including graduates of the private college and students of Government College University, held placards that read, “WE WANT JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS.”

The protest was registered as part of the “Progressive Students Collective”, an association of students from various colleges and universities.

The association calls for the formation of a human rights committee made up of judges and students as well as separate committees for complaints about harassment and similar problems among students.

Meanwhile, students in various cities of the province, including Multan, Jahanian and Zafarwal, held separate demonstrations against the alleged harassment of students.

According to reports, some of the students vandalized a college in Multan after which some of them were arrested when police used batons on them.

In Zafarwal, students blocked traffic on a road by setting tires on fire.

Girl’s family denies ‘rape’

As protests rocked the provincial capital, the girl’s family emerged and denied claims of alleged rape.

In a video message with ASP Naqvi, the girl’s father and uncle – their faces covered with masks – said there was “no sexual assault” on their daughter.

“We are surprised to see the videos of the ongoing protests on social media.”

The girl’s uncle said she is currently being treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital for her back injury sustained from a fall in her home, adding that the protests in her name were unfairly carried out.

In the video, ASP Naqvi urged the masses not to implicate anyone based on false reports.

In case of such crimes, the police will always register a case in their name, she stressed.

CM Maryam forms a high-level probe body

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formed a high-level committee to investigate allegations of sexual assault on a female student.

The panel has been directed to investigate the matter and submit a report to the CM within 48 hours.

A notification was issued to constitute the inquiry committee, according to which the six-member panel – headed by the Chief Secretary of Punjab – comprised the Home Secretary, Advocate General, Secretary Higher Education, Secretary Special Education, Secretary Specialized Health Care and Secretary Medical health existed.

The committee will examine all aspects of the matter, including the university administration’s immediate response to the incident and the police’s response to it.