Silence follows protests over rape allegations

LAHORE:For a week now, the usually bustling campuses of a private group of colleges have fallen silent. Since October 15th, all campuses in the provincial metropolis have been closed following widespread protests sparked by allegations of an on-campus student rape.

The college closure has been a big problem for students. They have missed classes, their study plans have been messed up, and they're worried about what will happen next since there's still no news about when the colleges will reopen. Even today (Monday), the colleges are still closed.

The violent protests had not only resulted in injuries to many students and staff but also caused substantial damage to the college properties in Lahore and other parts of Punjab particularly in Rawalpindi where a large number of students were arrested for vandalism and disrupting peace. In protests in the provincial metropolis main entry gates and other parts of the different campuses such as reception and outdoor areas were severely damaged, leaving a visible mark on the appearance of the campuses.

Parents are growing increasingly concerned about the impact of the prolonged closure on their children’s education. They fear that the missed classes and disrupted learning environment could have long-lasting consequences. Many parents are urging the government to intervene and ensure that the colleges reopen as soon as possible.

A high-powered committee formed by the Punjab government and headed by the Chief Secretary Punjab investigated the rape allegations and found them to be false. The committee's report has revealed that the incident was fabricated and spread through social media to fuel unrest.

While the committee found the allegations false and the incident as fabricated it had caused significant damage to the reputation of the college as well as the family of the alleged victim and other related people.

Whereas the inquiry committee found that the rape allegations were false and fabricated, the damage done to the college's reputation, the supposed victim's family, and other individuals involved is already significant. Even though the accusations were proven untrue, the negative impact on the college's image and the affected family's reputation remains substantial. It's a reminder of how misinformation/disinformation can lead to real-world consequences.

While the college's top management was occupied with government investigations, they neglected the students missing out on their education. They didn't set up online classes to help prevent academic loss, which might have also kept some students from joining the protests by focusing on their studies instead.

Parents of the students are now appealing to the government to ensure that campuses reopen and students can return to their classes. They emphasise the importance of resuming normal academic activities to prevent further learning losses and ensure the students’ educational progress.

Talking to The News, a spokesperson for the group of colleges said that the administration would need some time to resume on-campus academic activities for repair work due to the significant damage to buildings and property across various campuses. The spokesperson also mentioned that, in the meantime, the management is planning to offer online classes to prevent further academic loss for students.