Police Dismiss Campus Rape Reports as “Fake News” Amid Student Protests

Lahore-(Special Correspondent/ Webdesk): For police, the recent viral reports of a college campus rape are deemed “fake news,” inciting unrest. In contrast, protesting students see these social media posts as a rare opportunity for public acknowledgment of sexual assault.

As the conflicting narratives have erupted from online discussions into public demonstrations, both sides recognize that the incident has ignited genuine concerns. “Girls who attend campuses definitely feel threatened,” said 21-year-old Khadija Shabbir during a protest in eastern Lahore that was quickly suppressed by authorities.

Senior officer Syeda Shehrbano Naqvi, tasked with investigating the case, insists the allegations stem from unverified online rumors. However, she acknowledges that the issue resonates deeply regarding harassment in Pakistan, where discussing abuse remains a taboo subject. “All of us somewhere have experienced it. It’s an extremely sensitive topic,” she noted.

‘Deep-Rooted Frustration’
The situation began earlier this month with a wave of social media posts claiming that a staff member raped a woman in the basement of a Punjab College campus in Lahore. When police and local media could not identify a victim, local government and school officials dismissed the allegations as a hoax.

Following this, student protests erupted last Monday, escalating into unrest across Lahore and other cities later in the week, resulting in the arrests of at least 380 individuals for vandalism and arson. As a precaution, educational institutions in Punjab province were closed on Friday, a day when protests are typically held, and political gatherings were prohibited for two days without explanation. This led to approximately 26 million children being out of school, along with many university and college students in the country’s most populous province.

Despite being banned from officially organizing into unions for the past 40 years, students have continued to protest this week. “I haven’t seen this level of anger or reaction from them before,” remarked Fatima Razzaq, a member of the Aurat March women’s rights group.

In Punjab, the government has set up a women-only police emergency line, reportedly receiving 1,300 calls daily from women concerned for their safety. Yet, with 80 percent of women reporting harassment in public spaces, as indicated by the UN, there is widespread skepticism about the authorities’ seriousness regarding the issue. Razzaq highlighted that this situation is leading to “deep-rooted frustration” among the populace.

While protesters have varied opinions on the validity of the rape claim that has ignited the movement, many cite their personal experiences as the key factor motivating their participation. “A girl I know at my university committed suicide due to harassment,” shared student Amna Nazar. Another University of the Punjab student, who preferred to remain anonymous, remarked, “My professor keeps asking me out and calling me to his office. This is something I do not want to do.”

At the campus where the alleged incident occurred, activists adorned the walls with red handprints and demands for “justice for the rape victim,” but these messages were quickly covered up.

“If we report an incident, we are often told that nothing happened and that we should stop talking about it,” lamented a female student from another university.

Dissent and Distrust
Lahore’s High Court has announced the formation of a new committee of judges to investigate campus sexual harassment, suggesting that authorities are acknowledging the legitimacy of the protests. However, the tension between students and police unfolds against a backdrop of a wider crackdown on dissent from political and ethnic activists throughout Pakistan.

Student-led social media pages and online groups organized to mobilize protestors have disappeared, and officials have vowed to prosecute those spreading misinformation. Officer Naqvi noted a growing distrust, stating that people are less inclined to believe those in uniform, which has transformed the confrontation into a “state versus the students” issue.

Meanwhile, the women whose harassment experiences have propelled them to the forefront of the movement often find themselves sidelined as the protests escalate into violence typically instigated by men. In Rawalpindi, male students hurled rocks at police, who responded with rubber bullets, leaving women to seek refuge in nearby side streets.

Despite these challenges, 19-year-old student Inshai declared, “We are standing up for our rights.”

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