The Punjab government has declared a holiday for all public and private colleges and universities in the province on Friday (tomorrow), as stated in an official notification.
The notification, issued on Thursday, also confirmed the enforcement of Section 144 across the province on October 18 and 19. This measure prohibits all protests and gatherings in an effort to maintain public order and safeguard lives and property.
Read more: Students Clash with Police in Rawalpindi During Protest Over Lahore College Rape Allegations
This decision follows the ongoing unrest in Punjab, sparked by the alleged rape of a female college student in Lahore, which has led to widespread protests. The incident, which gained significant attention on social media, has prompted students to stage demonstrations across multiple cities in recent days.
Earlier today, police arrested over 250 individuals in Rawalpindi’s Dhoke Gangal area after student protests turned violent. The demonstrators, protesting the alleged rape, forcibly entered a hostel, causing damage to the premises, throwing stones, and destroying vehicles.
In response, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and safely evacuated teachers and staff who had been trapped inside the building.
On Tuesday, more than two dozen people, including four police officers, were injured during violent protests in Lahore.
The unrest has drawn a strong reaction from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who announced a crackdown on those spreading false information about the rape case during a media briefing on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, 274 individuals have been charged in connection with acts of vandalism at the Shalamar Campus of a private college in Lahore. Among them, 24 have been specifically named, while the remaining 250 are listed as unidentified. The FIR states that some of the suspects were arrested for vandalism and arson, with attackers reportedly using petrol bombs against police and setting six employees’ motorcycles on fire.
