GC Lahore forms panel to investigate harassment and blackmail charges against a teacher, after two women allegedly attacked him at a conference and a video of the incident spread on social media.
The university administration said the vice chancellor had taken notice of the video and set up a probe committee, including external members, which must submit its report within seven days.
What happened at the conference
The incident took place during a tea break at the Thaap Conference, when two women allegedly attacked an assistant professor of English at the college with punches, according to witnesses who intervened and later spoke to Dawn.
Three women were present at the conference, the witnesses said. Two of them attacked the teacher, while the third filmed the episode on her mobile phone. The video later went viral on social media. Those sitting nearby tried to restrain the attacking women but could not.
According to the witnesses, the women referred to earlier allegations against the teacher and demanded the return of Rs3.5 million which they claimed he had received from a girl. They disputed the account circulating on social media that one of the women was the girl’s mother.
The witnesses also said the women referred to an earlier inquiry in a harassment case in which the teacher had reportedly been cleared of the allegations. That earlier inquiry is now at the centre of the dispute.
Old Ravians raise questions
The Old Ravians, a body of former students of the institution, expressed concern over what it described as recurring allegations of harassment, bullying, blackmail and extortion against the teacher.
In a statement, the body claimed the allegations against the teacher had first surfaced in 2024 and triggered a reaction among students, but the matter was not pursued transparently. It questioned the handling of the earlier inquiry and the treatment of the complainant, asking why the earlier inquiry had allegedly been hushed up and “the complainant subjected to pressure”.
The body demanded justice for the alleged victim and called for safe spaces for students and teachers on and off educational campuses.
The case touches a raw nerve in Punjab’s education sector. Just a day earlier, police in Bahawalpur booked a private college principal over the alleged assault of a 17-year-old student, showing how quickly such cases now reach the police and the press. The case comes in a week when Punjab’s education sector has already been in the news, with BISE Rawalpindi postponing computer science papers in Jhelum and the province splitting school secretariats across three regions. Students and parents expect institutions to act fast and in the open, and any sign of a cover-up draws an angry response.
GC Lahore forms panel: what the university says
The GC administration said the vice chancellor had taken notice of a video circulating on social media concerning an off-campus incident and allegations against the faculty member.
A probe committee, including external members, had been constituted to examine the facts and circumstances of the matter and directed to submit its report within seven days, the administration said.
The university restated its zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, saying anyone found responsible for misconduct would face action under the law and institutional rules. It said the inquiry would follow due process and that appropriate action would be taken in light of the committee’s findings.
The administration added that the allegations against the teacher and the financial claims made by the women had yet to be independently established. The teacher could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated calls on his mobile phone.
Government College University Lahore, founded in 1864, is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Pakistan, and its name carries weight far beyond the city. That history is part of why the case has drawn so much attention: a respected institution is being asked to show that its own processes work, and that complaints are handled fairly whichever side they come from.
The seven-day deadline gives the committee little time. It must establish what happened at the conference, whether the Rs3.5 million claim has any basis, and whether the earlier inquiry was handled properly. Its findings will decide whether the teacher faces action or is cleared, and whether the women who attacked him face charges of their own.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Government College Lahore?
Two women allegedly attacked an assistant professor of English during a tea break at the Thaap Conference, while a third woman filmed the incident. The video went viral on social media.
What did the women demand?
Witnesses said the women referred to earlier allegations against the teacher and demanded the return of Rs3.5 million which they claimed he had received from a girl.
What has the university done?
The vice chancellor has formed a probe committee, including external members, and directed it to submit its report within seven days. The university says it has a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment.
What do the Old Ravians say?
The former students’ body said allegations against the teacher first surfaced in 2024 and were not pursued transparently. It questioned why the earlier inquiry was allegedly hushed up and demanded justice for the alleged victim.
Have the allegations been proven?
No. The university administration said the allegations and the financial claims have yet to be independently established, and the teacher could not be contacted for comment.
