Student bodies from various institutes have announced their decision to organise a nationwide ‘Student Solidarity March’ on November 20 if their demands are not met.
A large number of protesters, mostly students, were apprehended by law enforcement personnel all over the country in the aftermath of the alleged Lahore rape case.
Footage shared on social media showed police using violent means to disperse the crowd in addition to detaining more than 100 students.
Organisers of various student bodies held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club wherein they threatened a nationwide protest on November 20 if the state didn’t agree to their demands, which included taking back cases against protesters.
Members of Pashtun Council, Progressive Students Forum, People’s Students Federation, Revolutionary Students Front, and Progressive Students’ Collective addressed the press conference.
They highlighted the recent clash between students and guards at a renowned public university in Lahore, condemning state’s use of pressure tactics and violence against students – many of whom were aged between 15 and 17.
The student organizations issued a charter of demands, including the establishment of anti-harassment committees at every institution with democratic student representation, an independent commission to investigate harassment complaints and publish its findings, action against police and security guards responsible for torturing students at private college, and the unconditional withdrawal of all charges and disciplinary actions against the protesting students.
