LHC to Form Full Bench for Inquiry into Harassment Incidents and Fake News in Educational Institutions

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has announced its decision to establish a full bench to investigate recent harassment incidents in educational institutions and the dissemination of fake news on social media. This decision came during a hearing regarding a petition aimed at addressing harassment cases within schools and colleges.

During the proceedings, Inspector General of Punjab Police Usman Anwar and other officials appeared before the court. Chief Justice Alia Neelum questioned the IG about the measures taken to prevent the circulation of viral videos, asking, “Why didn’t you act sooner? You only seem to wake up once the damage is done.”

In response, IG Punjab stated that they had reached out to the **Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). He reported that over 700 accounts were found to be sharing the contentious videos and acknowledged the complexity of stopping such widespread content.

Chief Justice Neelum expressed her concerns over the safety of students, emphasizing, “If anything had happened to the girls protesting on the streets, who would have been held accountable?” She pressed the officials to clarify their actions on October 14 and 15, expressing disappointment over their lack of response during that period.

The Advocate General of Punjab informed the court that a social media post on October 12 had falsely reported a rape incident at a private college. He detailed that police had initiated an investigation, but no evidence of such an incident was found.

IG Punjab reiterated that the police had identified over 700 accounts involved in spreading misinformation and highlighted the difficulty of managing social media content effectively, comparing it to challenges faced in countries like England.

Chief Justice Neelum emphasized the necessity of immediate action and effective management of such situations, questioning, “What would happen if something occurred to the girls on the streets?”

The Advocate General explained that a false rumor linked a student’s absence to an alleged assault, leading to protests despite a lack of evidence. Chief Justice Neelum underscored the need to ensure safety in educational environments, calling for restrictions on male staff presence in areas designated for female students.

The hearing concluded with the Chief Justice stating that a full bench would reconvene to address these cases on Tuesday. She ordered the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the recent incidents thoroughly, mandating his personal appearance at the next hearing. The court highlighted the critical need to combat fake news and protect students’ futures, urging swift action to restore confidence in educational institutions.