Confounding case

Rape is no trivial matter, especially so in Pakistan where it has assumed epidemic proportions. Which is why we do not take alleged rape charges lightly and have always maintained that every effort must be done to ensure justice, accountability, and the protection of victims and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual assault cases. This is also why disinformation campaigns, especially around issues like GBV, do nothing but set back anti-GBV activism by decades. No matter how noble the cause, pushing an agenda based on unproven or false claims only undermines that cause in the long run. This is how the events surrounding the protests by college students across Punjab this past week are shaping up according to independent investigations by the media. What began as a rumour – an alleged rape of a female student on a private college campus in Lahore – soon escalated into widespread violence and mayhem. These unverified claims quickly went viral, spreading like wildfire across platforms. And before the details of the situation were even clear, students at the college had already begun demonstrating – a situation that soon turned violent.

The authorities’ response to this was tragically predictable and inadequate. Rather than de-escalating the situation, the heavy-handed actions by the police aggravated it, leading to a rapid spread of protests to other cities and colleges in Punjab. The fallout has been severe. Hundreds of students have been arrested, dozens of police officers have been injured, and motorcycles outside a college in Mandi Bahauddin were set ablaze. Protesters also ransacked a hostel in Rawalpindi. The most heartbreaking tragedy in this chain of events, however, is the death of a 50-year-old security guard from Gondal Sharif, who was on duty during one of the protests. He was reportedly attacked by enraged students and later died in a hospital in Gujrat. Amid all the chaos, no new evidence has come forward to substantiate the initial claims of rape. On the contrary, the alleged victim’s family have publicly stated that there was no such incident. No eyewitnesses have come forward and the Punjab government’s initial investigation has likewise concluded that no rape took place and that the girl’s injuries were indeed sustained at home. This is a finding one hopes is true – though bizarrely the alternative (that this is a case of disinformation) is a scary prospect in a terrifying new world.

The ease with which the public believed the initial, unverified claims also speaks volumes about the lack of trust in Pakistan’s justice system and is a sad reflection of how little confidence there is in the authorities to properly investigate and handle crimes against women. Yet, this is precisely why elevating baseless rumours and promoting unverified claims can do far more harm than good. When misinformation spreads unchecked, it erodes trust, confuses the public, and weakens the very movements fighting for victims’ rights. What makes the Punjab situation so alarming is also the media’s startling unpreparedness to handle potential disinformation that can fuel chaos, catching even experienced newsrooms off guard. That said, the authorities are far from blameless. Their hammer-like approach to dealing with student protests only exacerbated the situation. Let it be clear: nothing at all warrants police abuse. If anything, it reflects the deep disconnect between young people and the institutions meant to serve and protect them. The lack of trust is glaring, and the government must reflect on why students – who should be able to rely on the system – felt compelled to act on rumours rather than seek justice through the proper channels. The government must also not rest on any ‘initial’ findings and pursue this case with an open, transparent investigation – without assumptions and accusations regarding party affiliations and intentions. Only a proper detailed deep investigation conducted by a mix of state and civil society actors will help solve what has been a chaotic and confusing case. Much needs to change in Pakistan, but any positive change will always be grounded in the truth.