LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formed a seven-member committee to investigate the alleged rape case at a private college in Lahore.
The high-powered committee, headed by the Punjab chief secretary as the convener, consists of the secretaries of home, higher education, health and special education, among others.
The committee has been tasked with gathering evidence related to the case and recording statements from all parties involved.
Police refute claims of alleged rape incident
Meanwhile, Punjab police have dismissed the allegations regarding the rape of the private college student, stating that “no victim” linked to the incident has come forward to record the statement.
The incident had triggered protests in Lahore and other cities on Monday and Tuesday.
The Lahore police earlier claimed to have arrested the security guard on charges of raping a first-year student.
The accused raped the victim girl in the basement of the college before he fled after the girl made hue and cry.
Police earlier said that the fugitive security guard has been arrested from Sialkot, and an investigation has been launched.
The victim girl, *I*, is a resident of Sheikhupura and a student of Punjab Group of Colleges, Gaddafi Stadium Hali Road branch number 10.
According to the police, the suspect denied the allegations.
On Monday, a group of students gathered outside the private college after reports of the alleged rape of a female student went viral on social media. The protest soon turned violent, leading to clashes between students and the police. At least 28 students including five policemen were injured.
Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Defence, Shehrbano Naqvi told Geo News that the girl in question had been hospitalised 10 days prior to the alleged incident. “Her medical records are available, and we also have details about her fall at home while getting ready for school,” the officer explained.
ASP Naqvi clarified that there were two girls at the college with the same name. One of them was in good health, while the other had been admitted to the hospital. The officer urged anyone with credible information to come forward, adding that the police have multiple platforms available for reporting such cases.
She also addressed rumors that CCTV footage of the incident had been deleted, saying that the police have no such evidence and are encouraging anyone with relevant information to share it.
Protests escalate
Meanwhile, students held a sit-in protest outside the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, despite heavy police deployment at Cheering Cross, Mall Road.
Protesters, including alumni from the private college and students from Government College University, carried placards demanding justice for the alleged victim.
The demonstration was organised by the “Progressive Students Collective”, a group of students from various colleges and universities.
The association called for the formation of a human rights committee comprising judges and female students, as well as separate bodies to handle harassment complaints.
In other cities across the province, including Multan, Jahanian, and Zafarwal, students staged protests against the alleged rape of the student.
Some protesters in Multan reportedly vandalized a college, leading to their arrest after police baton-charged the crowd.