ISLAMABAD: More than 150 people were detained in Rawalpindi on Thursday for vandalism during protests against the alleged rape of a girl in Lahore, which officials described as a fabrication aimed at inciting students and creating unrest in the province.
The incident was first reported on social media over the weekend, with varying accounts suggesting the rape took place last Thursday or Friday evening in the basement of a Punjab College for Women campus in Lahore. Police said no victim had come forward to file a complaint, and the college dismissed the allegations as “false.”
Despite the official account, hundreds of students staged protests at the start of the week, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to form a committee to investigate the alleged incident following clashes between students and police.
Students throw stones toward police during clashes as they protest over an alleged on-campus rape in Punjab, in Rawalpindi on October 17, 2024. (AP)
She also accused her political rival, former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, of spreading the “lie” about the incident to incite students and create unrest in the province.
“More than 150 people involved in vandalism have been detained and legal action has been taken against those involved in illegal activities,” the Rawalpindi police said in a social media post on X. “The process of identifying students through video footage and photographs has started.”
The police said all the persons accused of vandalism, arson and any illegal activities would be dealt with according to the law and no one will be allowed to endanger the lives of fellow students, teachers and citizens.
The police urged parents to keep a close watch on their children and keep them away from any illegal activities because criminal records could ruin the future of students.
“Rawalpindi Police personnel are deployed at various locations across the city who are fully prepared to deal with any law and order situation, vandalism under the guise of protest, or violation of law,” the statement added.
Students throw stones toward police during clashes as they protest over an alleged on-campus rape in Punjab, in Rawalpindi on October 17, 2024. (AP)
Police fire tear gas to disperse students protesting over an alleged on-campus rape in Punjab, in Rawalpindi on October 17, 2024. (AP)
