In one of the violent events in Pakistan reported recently, outrage has reached a point where the accusation of authorities’ covering the Punjab College rape case to save its name has started. According to different reports, a 15-year-old minor was raped by a security guard in one of the private colleges. The conflicting claims have surfaced as some claim that CEO was involved and he used a scapegoat in the form of a guard to save the image of an institution while others are of the view that rape allegations were totally false.
With protests in Punjab gaining intensity, alongside social media loaded with viral clips, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz junked the rape allegations. She said no evidence had surfaced as yet. She termed the incident a “politically motivated move” by PTI aimed at disgracing Punjab. Nawaz told reporters that she presided over the last meeting of the investigating committee and said,
“As a mother and as a leader, it is my duty to protect the dignity of women. There is no evidence to substantiate the rape charge.”
However, demonstrations continue to argue that officials are covering up the Punjab college rape case in order to save their reputation. Videos are running on social media showing a girl in uniform at a hospital. However, it is not verified that the girl in the video is the alleged victim. As stated by Nawaz, the girl had been admitted to the hospital on 2nd October due to a serious fall and not rape. She had been shown as a victim, which was not true.
Are authorities covering the Punjab College rape case to save their reputation or is it really a fake case?
However, medical records accessed by ARY News further complicate the case: she had been suffering from a neck injury due to a fall, and there was no major injury in her CT scan. The protests continue on grounds of suspicion of a cover-up. The Federal Investigation Agency has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate disinformation on social media regarding the case.
The father of the alleged victim also denied the rape allegations, saying his daughter’s condition was due to a fall at home. Despite his statement, unrest continued as schools and colleges were closed on October 18 owing to the protests. The case continues to be a source of outcry among the public, who suspect authorities are covering the Punjab college rape case to save reputations. He said:
“Our daughter is being used as a basis for protests, which has no connection to her. We have provided the police with our daughter’s medical reports,” he added, expressing disbelief after viewing footage of the protests concerning his daughter. “Those who have daughters can feel this pain,”
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