Probe panel formed as police appeal for evidence in rape case at Lahore private college

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has formed a six-member committee to probe the girl's rape incident at Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC), while the Lahore police have appealed to the masses to provide proof of the incident if anyone has it.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the six-member committee headed by the Chief Secretary of Punjab will submit its report within 48 hours. 

The Home Secretary, Advocate General Punjab, Secretary Higher Education, Secretary Special Education, and Secretary Specialised Healthcare and Medical Health will be the members of the committee.

As per the notification, the committee can also make someone else a member to help it, the committee will collect evidence regarding the alleged rape of the student, which will also record the statements of the college students, teachers, and management. 

Officials said the committee will review all aspects, including the immediate response of the college administration and the police's handling of the case.

On the other hand, Lahore police appealed to the masses to provide evidence on the alleged incident of abuse of a student in the PGC.

Speaking in a private channel's program, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shahar Bano said that we do not have any CCTV footage related to the alleged incident, if anyone has any evidence of raping the student, then bring it to the fore.

He said the girl's relatives confirmed that their daughter fell in the house and there was no incident of rape with her; besides, if there was an incident with anyone, tell the police. 

The ASP said that if the police had not caught the guard, the police would still have been called wrong. 

It should be noted that the news of a college student being allegedly raped by a security guard and a van driver in PGC's Campus 10 located in Gulberg came to light yesterday, after which students boycotted classes and demonstrated a violent protest.

Reports from the protest reveal that a large number of students gathered outside Campus 10, while some were forcibly locked inside by the administration. 

Violent clashes between students and police at the PGC at Canal Road and Ferozpur Road led to several injuries, with at least 34 students and four policemen hurt. Media reports confirmed that both a male and a female student were hospitalised due to their injuries. 

Police resorted to a brutal baton charge on the protesting students, but the students managed to force them to retreat from the college premises.

The protests spilled over into the Muslim Town area, where students expressed their anger at what they claimed was an attempt by the college administration and police to suppress the incident. Demonstrators demanded justice and transparency in the investigation.

According to the media reports, yesterday, a first-year student of ICS named Arza at Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) Campus 10 in Lahore was allegedly raped by a security guard named Aun and a van driver in the college basement.

The incident occurred during a break when the student was accidentally locked in the basement. Her cries for help were eventually heard by a male teacher, who discovered her in distress.

The accused guard, Aun, fled the scene after the incident. The female victim was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital.

Students have accused the college administration of prioritising the institution's reputation over justice, as they are allegedly pressuring the students to stay silent about the incident.

The accused security guard, who had a history of inappropriate behaviour, has been arrested following the incident, which went viral on social media. 

Lahore police confirmed that a formal First Information Report (FIR) has yet to be registered, as the victim’s family has not come forward with an official complaint.