‘Justice must prevail’: Celebrities outraged after alleged rape of Lahore college student

UPDATE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz dismissed on Wednesday “rumours spread on social media” related to the alleged on-campus rape of a student in Lahore, terming it a “fabricated story”. Addressing a press conference, she said an issue was made out of an incident that never existed in the first place.

Celebrities are speaking out after a security guard allegedly raped a student at a private college in Lahore. They’re calling for justice as well as the guarantee of students’ well-being on campus.

Prominent figures from the entertainment industry, including Mahira Khan, Sarwat Gillani and Durefishan Saleem, all spoke out against the incident.

What happened

A security guard was arrested on Sunday after news of the alleged rape of a student at the Punjab Group of Colleges went viral on social media. According to a police statement, an investigation has been initiated.

According to Dawn.com, at least 27 people were injured after students clashed with the college’s security team and then with the police during a protest against the alleged rape, rescue officials said on Monday.

A statement issued by the Punjab Group of Colleges maintained that no incident of rape was reported, blaming “false claims circulating on social media” for the events that transpired on Monday.

According to the police, an FIR has not been registered as the family members of the victim have not come forward.

Enraged by the alleged incident, students mobilised on social media and staged protests outside different colleges in the city. During one of the protests, clashes broke out between the protesters and the security team of a college. Later, the students also clashed with police, with both clashes resulting in injuries.

On Monday, the Directorate of Public Instruction (Colleges), Punjab suspended the registration of the Punjab College for Women “till further orders”.

Celebrities speak up

Following the clashes and social media uproar, celebrities are now taking to Instagram to denounce the incident.

Durefishan Saleem said she was “frustrated and angry” at the incident and questioned how long we would hear such stories.

“How long will we tell our daughters to be ‘careful’? You all are part of this rape culture if you have ever been part of a culture where it’s normal to be blaming the victim,” Saleem wrote on Instagram.

She highlighted that every time someone gets raped, “it is us as a society failing”.

Yumna Zaidi said she was heartbroken and out of words after the incident.

“Every abuse, every injustice, every cruelty will require an answer,” she wrote in Urdu, calling for justice for the victim.

Sarwat Gillani shared a post from the Aurat March and condemned negligence in the safety and security of women in the workplace or educational facilities.

“We believe justice should prevail and the people asking the students to remain silent on this issue should be held accountable for their actions.”

Mahira Khan shared a video of students protesting and called the incident “shameful”.

Ayesha Omar called the occurrence “utterly tragic and traumatic” and demanded the trial and punishment of the culprits. The actor prayed for the victim’s strength, healing and courage, and hoped her family members “believe, love and comfort her and stand by her in pride, not shame and denial”.

Through hashtags, Omar also called for the protection of students and women.

Kinza Hashmi said, “Concealing a crime is akin to being complicit in it,” and urged the university’s administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

“Students represent the future of our country and ensuring their well-being and security must be the highest priority.”

Sanam Jung claimed that the principal of the college was trying to “hush [up] the matter for the reputation of the college instead of protecting the students”. The actor was referring to claims that the college tried to bury the matter.

Jung called for the suspension of the principal and justice for the victim and other students.

Singer Nehaal Naseem hoped that the justice system played its role in showing no mercy to the alleged perpetrator rather than delaying the case.

“Are we not safe even in an all girls school? That man was supposed to guard an educational institute.”

Other celebrities, including Maya Ali, Wahaj Ali, Zara Noor Abbas, Hadiqa Kiani, Naimal Khawar, Aiman Khan and Hira Mani, reshared Instagram templates which called for sons’ education instead of daughters’ protection and detailed the occurrence, as well as new stories about what happened.

Punjab CM forms investigation committee

After the outrage on social media, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formed a seven-member committee to investigate the incident, The Express Tribune reported.

The committee will be chaired by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and is expected to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The committee is tasked with submitting its findings to the chief minister within 48 hours.