The Student Action Committee Lahore, formed by students from various educational institutions, has called for transparent investigations into incidents of rape and harassment at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and Punjab College. The committee demands strict punishment for the perpetrators and safer campuses for all students.
The committee also urged action against police officers involved in the torture of students during protests and called for the immediate release of detained students. On Monday, the group organized a protest in front of the Punjab Assembly on The Mall, where students from FC College, Punjab College, LCWU, Garrison College, and GC University gathered. Parents, public and private sector workers, and members of the Revolutionary Communist Party also joined the protest, which saw heavy police presence across Lahore, particularly near educational institutions.
The Student Action Committee was formed to unite students across Lahore on a common platform. The protesters highlighted that around 50 million students, including a large number of female students, were enrolled in educational institutions across the province, many of whom live in constant fear and insecurity. They called on the government to take immediate and effective action to address their concerns.
Organizers reported that security agencies had contacted some students, warning them that their participation in the protest could jeopardize their lives and careers. Despite these warnings, the representatives of the Student Action Committee declared that protests would continue until all their demands were met. They further announced plans to establish similar committees at all educational institutions in Lahore to expand the movement.
The committee specifically demanded a forensic audit of CCTV footage from the period during which the alleged rape at Punjab College took place and urged that all evidence currently in police custody, as well as the actions taken so far, be made public. They also called for a thorough investigation into the harassment incidents at LCWU, insisting that a detailed report, based on all available evidence, be shared with the public.
Furthermore, the students demanded the suspension and punishment of police officers who assaulted students, as well as the officials who ordered these actions. They called for the immediate release of all arrested students and the withdrawal of cases filed against them. The committee condemned the use of the Cyber Crime Act to arrest students and called for action against college administrators, teachers, and staff members who have intimidated students. They also demanded transparency regarding college finances, asserting that students should have access to information on how their tuition fees are being spent.
Additionally, the committee advocated for the creation of democratically elected student action committees on every campus to ensure that student’s voices are heard in decision-making processes, particularly regarding issues like harassment. They also called for the nationalization of all private educational institutions to end the commercialization of education and demanded free, high-quality education at all levels.