A high-level committee appointed by the Punjab government has released initial findings regarding the claims of an alleged rape of a first-year female student at a private college in Lahore.
During this session, statements from 36 individuals, including senior officials like DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran and college principal Dr. Saadia Javed, were recorded.
The student and her parents stated that her injuries resulted from a fall from her bed at home on October 2. She was treated at several medical facilities, including General Hospital and the Brain and Spine Clinic in Cantt, and was discharged from Ittefaq Hospital in Model Town on October 11.
They firmly denied any incident of rape and voiced concerns about the spread of false narratives on social media, requesting police action against the purveyors of this disinformation under the Cyber Crime Act. The committee also featured prominent figures from the education sector.
Read: Punjab College Assault Allegation: Police and College Admin in Dispute
FIA Involvement and Student Protests
Concurrently, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has formed a seven-member team to probe the dissemination of false information about the incident. An FIA spokesperson confirmed the team, led by a deputy director, is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting those spreading these falsehoods. He stated, “The FIA is committed to using all available resources to identify and hold accountable those responsible for disseminating disinformation.”
Student protests continued for a second day outside the college following violent clashes that injured dozens, including four policemen. The protest, initially sparked by viral social media reports of the alleged rape, was temporarily paused, with plans to resume on Tuesday.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has called on political figures to handle the situation sensitively and avoid exploiting it for political gain. She emphasized that the girl’s parents have denied the allegations.
In a Punjab Assembly session, Bokhari noted that there were three students with the same name at the college, and authorities had visited their homes to clarify the situation. She reiterated that the girl’s parents consistently denied any misconduct, stating their daughter had fallen down the stairs. All hospital records have been scrutinized, and the family has requested respect for their privacy.
