Police confirmed the arrest of 250 people after a student protest turned violent in Rawalpindi. The students were demonstrating against the alleged rape of a college girl in Lahore. They broke into a hostel, vandalized property, and threw stones at vehicles.
Police responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd and evacuated trapped teachers and staff. These protests are part of ongoing unrest in the province due to rape allegations that gained attention on social media.
On Tuesday, more than two dozen people, including four police officers, were injured in similar protests. In response, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a crackdown on misinformation related to the rape case.
Rawalpindi’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Hafiz Kamran Asghar, said that the situation is now under control and that multiple arrests were made. He noted that police are investigating all aspects of the protests and have increased police presence in various areas.
Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema stated that negotiations with student leaders had been successful and that many who caused property damage during the protests have been arrested. Additional police forces are now stationed outside schools.
In Lahore, 274 people have been charged with vandalism related to protests at a private college. While 24 individuals are specifically named in the case, the remaining 250 are listed as unidentified. The charges include attacks on police and destruction of property.
Chief Minister Maryam emphasized that there was an effort to mislead students and that she knows who is behind the unrest. A government report stated that the girl was not raped and that her injuries occurred at home. Police also filed a report against those spreading false information on social media.