SNE NETWORK.LAHORE.
The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province has decided to close educational institutions for three days amid growing protests by students. The students are protesting against the alleged rape of a girl student on the college campus. The Maryam Nawaz-led government has also banned all public events in view of the demonstrations by students and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party PTI after Friday prayers. PTI leaders and workers are protesting demanding the release of Imran Khan and independence of the judiciary.
More than 600 students arrested: Punjab Police
The Punjab government said all public and private schools, colleges and universities will remain closed from Friday to Sunday. The provincial police said it had arrested more than 600 students across the province. However, a police spokesperson claimed that many of the arrested students were released after talking to their parents. At the same time, the parents of the students say that the police brutally treated the students, due to which many students have been injured. He said that the government and the police are treating the students like criminals.
No evidence of rape of a student found: Maryam Nawaz
Violent protests have been going on in many cities of the province since Monday. The news came out on social media that a security guard allegedly raped a student at Punjab College for Women in Lahore. At least fifty students have been injured in the student protests. Three of them are in critical condition. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that no evidence of rape has been found and this news is fake.
The Maryam Nawaz government said that in view of the current law and order situation and threat, any kind of demonstration or procession can become a target of terrorists and criminals, which can not only pose a serious threat to security. But it can also affect the peace and order of the public.
FIA action against senior journalists-lawyers
Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Branch of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated action against some senior journalists, lawyers and TikTok users who have been accused of fabricating the story of the alleged rape. The FIA has arrested National Assembly employee Raja Ahsan Naveed, lawyer Faisal Jatt and TikTok user and blogger Umar Daraz Gondal. They have been accused of inciting students to armed and violent protests. The FIR includes the names of 38 senior journalists and TikTok users.