On October 17, 2024, Pakistani police fired tear gas to disperse students protesting an alleged rape an alleged on-campus rape at a Punjab Group of Colleges campus. At least 150 students were arrested.

The protest in Rawalpindi followed others that occurred earlier in the week in Lahore (see report) and other parts of Punjab province (see report). During the protests in Rawalpindi, students burned college furniture, looted a university building, and blocked a road. Police beat students with batons and fired tear gas. Reports of protesters arrested varied drastically in number, from 150 to 380.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/17/asia/pakistan-protests-reported-campus-rape-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-province-shuts-education-institutions-after-violent-protests-over-2024-10-18/
https://www.dawn.com/news/1865801
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/18/pakistan-province-shuts-schools-universities-amid-student-protests