National University of Science and Technology’s (NUST) was recently accused of covering up a tragic incident of rape that allegedly occurred within its premises.
Netizens are up in arms over this rather poorly-phrased tweet that was sent out by the official NUST Twitter handle on 24th December:
https://twitter.com/Official_NUST/status/1209500489785729026
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To add to that the university didn’t stop at victim-shaming. They took it upon themselves to silence students with threats of expulsion.
NUST went as far as to say that these are all lies that ‘ruin lives, reputations and futures’.
When the students’ safety was at stake, many of them came forward to let the word out. Turns out this isn’t the first time NUST has failed to take action against cases of sexual assault.
are demanding an investigation & safety on campus. They are forbidden from discussing this on social media and elsewhere because they may be expelled. This isn't the first incident rather last summer, a student went through similar ordeal and she was silenced too.
— cansheNOT (@carr0tcakee) December 24, 2019
Word has it rather than carry out an inquiry as the law demands or allow law enforcement authorities to handle the matter, it seems that NUST may have ended up abetting a rapist.
The institution has previously taken measures which only curtail the movement of women students with regards to curfews and dress codes. The university has never been held accountable in lieu of sexual harassment cases only to uphold the name, which is a symbol of nationalism.
— cansheNOT (@carr0tcakee) December 24, 2019
Social Media Erupts at NUST
People are not about to let this issue slide again. In response, #NUSTSupportsRapists is trending on Pakistani Twitter.
— Hamza. (@GullBeden) December 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/PakistaniReacts/status/1209554308833796097
— Shumail (@Shumyl) December 24, 2019
A GIRL WAS ALLEGEDLY RAPED IN NUST ISLAMABAD
NUST IS TRYING TO SHUT PEOPLE DOWN. IF YOU DON'T BELONG TO THE INSTITUTION AND NEVER DID, NAME AND SHAME THEM.#RapeinNust
— beezus (@blurmynamepls) December 24, 2019
#RapeInNUST #NUSTSupportsRapists https://t.co/sIVEFoOM3P
— bean (@beanknt) December 25, 2019
they say they investigated it and found nothing, and sure you sitting 1000 miles away are adequately qualified to be the judge, jury and executioner to 'name and shame' a perfectly safe, reputable University.
— samosa (@frezerati) December 24, 2019
In the meantime, NUST students are being warned to be wary. Like most universities, NUST charges a security fee, and now students are worried about their security and well-being.
— beezus (@blurmynamepls) December 24, 2019
If institute like Nust is shutting people down and not supporting the poor girl & TRUTH than this is the worst institute ever because education won't make you coward but greed will.
— ahmed (@ChaiChahiyeh) December 24, 2019
Netizens point out that how the university’s attempts to suppress facts can help them conduct a fair investigation? Some students alleged that the rapist was someone with access to campus grounds and is still out there.
Yeah.
Apparently an inside job.
Leaked by an SCH woman through Whatsapp Story.
One who did had permission on campus Grounds.
Inside students telling that construction worker might be involved— Cogito Ergo Sum (@TheNyqvist) December 24, 2019
I heard they are sending notices to students for DC & legal shit just for posting status.
— Ali Subhani (@alisubhani92) December 24, 2019
People are even calling on Prime Minister Imran Khan, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, and Director General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asif Ghafoor to take notice.
@ImranKhanPTI
take notice.@ShireenMazari1— Irfan Zeb (@irfanzeb9) December 24, 2019
Plz take notice
— A.k (@3718605d1c724e2) December 24, 2019
Looks like Member of National Assembly (MNA) Asma Qadeer even took notice. Let’s hope the Standing Committee can urge NUST to do the right thing.
Thank you mam
— A.k (@3718605d1c724e2) December 25, 2019
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https://twitter.com/Official_NUST/status/1209500496119181313
Most people are demanding a proper investigation into the matter. While in case of sexual harassment the matter can be dealt with internally via the ‘Protection Against Harassment of Women in the Workplace Act 2010‘. In case of rape though, the charges change from sexual harassment to rape, assault, battery, etc That makes this a criminal case that would be handled as a police case.
Why it looks like something has actually happened and the institution is trying to hide it.
The tweet itself looks like a threat….!!!?— Dr.Stranger 🇵🇰 (@Northysleeper) December 24, 2019
People are demanding that the police get involved.
Absolutely. @ICT_Police should investigate this immediately. It's matter of Reputation and Integrity of one of our Prized and Prestigious Institutiond
— Cogito Ergo Sum (@TheNyqvist) December 25, 2019
Lol sue?
In pakistan?
20 saal tk case chalay ga.— Maryam (@Flossopher09) December 25, 2019
Self-righteousness is not self-defense. Who investigated, what were the findings, who appeared before the investigators, what were the recommend measures? If nothing happened, and someone played mischief, how the offender was dealt. To be credible make the report public.
— Shakil Rai (@ShakilRai2) December 25, 2019
You have the courage to put 'fair and transparent' with the word 'investigation' in one sentence and that too in Pakistan 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Absolutely Bot (@absolutelybott) December 24, 2019
NUST in capital city is so unsafe?