A joint fact-finding mission of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the AGHS Legal Aid Cell has said that ‘in the absence of forensic evidence and credible testimony, it is final. It cannot be concluded that the allegations of rape of a female student in a private college in Lahore in early October 2024 were based on reality.
In a statement issued by HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt on Friday, the fact-finding mission on October 14 “strongly condemned the unnecessary use of force against hundreds of female students.”
According to the statement: ‘There has been a lot of noise on online platforms, suggesting that some other parties have tried to use the students’ narratives for their own benefit and expand their reach on social media.’
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The statement said that according to the mission’s observation, “the reaction of the students shows that they are very upset with the security situation in the educational institutions and the continuous incidents of sexual harassment and the attitude of blaming the victims.”
According to the mission; “Students’ anger should not be dismissed simply because they were outraged by being exposed to false information, but given the harm caused by false information, it is also important that digital literacy and facts To facilitate awareness, more than one effective awareness campaign should be conducted regularly at the public level.’
“The mission also recommends that a forensic examination of the CCTV footage of the first two weeks of October 10 on the campus be carried out,” the mission said in the statement, outlining other recommendations.
The mission also demanded accountability of the police for torturing students and detaining a man without an FIR for the alleged crime.
What was the event?
In early October last month, the news of the alleged rape of a female student of a private college in Lahore by a security guard of the college went viral on social media, after which the police started their operation. Meanwhile, the students of the college protested outside the college and some students were also injured in the crowd by the security personnel.
In this regard, a video statement of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Defense Syeda Shahrbanu Naqvi on behalf of Punjab Police was played on the official social media while Punjab Police also played a statement of Shahrbanu Naqvi on its X account.
In this statement, ASP Shahrbanu Naqvi said: ‘The unfortunate situation in Lahore was due to disinformation. We heard that a student of a private college, who was allegedly raped, was taken to a private hospital.’
He added: ‘We checked the records of this private hospital. It revealed that no rape victim was admitted to this hospital.’
The spokesperson of Punjab Police also said in his statement that if any citizen has any information regarding the alleged incident, then inform the Virtual Women Police Station.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz also said in her press conference that no evidence of the alleged rape of the female student was found in the incident reported on October 10.
Maryam Nawaz further said that the fabric of planning the ‘false news’ of the student’s rape is found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and foreign social media accounts.
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**Interview with HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt on Recent Allegations and Student Protests in Lahore**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Butt. Your report from the HRCP and AGHS Legal Aid Cell concluded that there is no credible evidence regarding the alleged rape of a student at a private college in Lahore. Can you elaborate on the findings of this fact-finding mission?
**Asad Iqbal Butt:** Thank you for having me. Our mission aimed to thoroughly investigate the allegations of rape that surfaced in early October. We found that, in the absence of forensic evidence and reliable testimony, it cannot be concluded that the alleged incident occurred as reported. It’s essential to approach such serious claims with diligence and fact-checking to prevent further harm.
**Interviewer:** The report indicates that students reacted strongly to the allegations and subsequent police actions. Can you comment on the students’ concerns and their response to the situation?
**Asad Iqbal Butt:** Absolutely. The students are understandably upset, not only about the alleged incident but also regarding the broader issues of safety and the culture of victim-blaming that persists in educational institutions. Their protests reflect a deep-seated frustration with ongoing incidents of sexual harassment and the lack of adequate protections for students.
**Interviewer:** The statement also mentioned that some parties may have exploited the students’ narratives for their own agendas on social media. How do you view the impact of misinformation in this context?
**Asad Iqbal Butt:** Misinformation can be incredibly harmful. It distorts the reality of the situation and can mislead public perception, detracting from the seriousness of genuine issues at hand. Encouraging digital literacy and fact-awareness campaigns is crucial to combat this kind of disinformation and foster a more informed community.
**Interviewer:** In your recommendations, you called for accountability among police for their actions during the protests. What specific measures do you think should be taken?
**Asad Iqbal Butt:** We believe there must be accountability for any use of force against peaceful protesters. Furthermore, the detention of a man without a formal report (FIR) on the alleged crime raises serious legal concerns. We recommend a thorough investigation of these actions and reassessing how law enforcement handles such sensitive situations.
**Interviewer:** what steps do you think educational institutions should take to improve the security situation for students?
**Asad Iqbal Butt:** Educational institutions must prioritize student safety by implementing safe reporting mechanisms for harassment cases, ensuring proper training for security personnel, and fostering an environment that supports victims rather than blames them. Additionally, we recommend regular training and awareness campaigns about consent and student rights.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Butt, for your insights and for shedding light on this critical issue.
**Asad Iqbal Butt:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital we continue to address these issues transparently and responsibly for the betterment of our educational institutions.
