Fact-check: True. Students did protest FC check post at women-only college in Balochistan
A check post for Frontier Corps was indeed being constructed within the college. However, following protests by students, the plan was withdrawn
Updated Friday Sep 13 2024
Social media in Pakistan is awash with claims that students at a women-only college in Balochistan have been protesting against the decision of security forces to establish a check post within college premises.
However, some online users have questioned the authenticity of these claims.
The claim is true.
Claim
On September 10, a social media account posted an 18-second video clip on X (formerly known as Twitter) that purportedly showed women demonstrating.
The video was shared alongside a claim that security forces intended to “occupy” the only women’s college in the Kharan district of Balochistan. The video has since garnered over 43,000 views and nearly 6,000 likes.
Other posts also claimed that security forces planned to set up a check post within the college. These claims can be read here and here.
Some users questioned in the comments whether the protest was real.
Fact
Three government officials confirmed to Geo Fact Check that a check post for the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force, was indeed being constructed within the college. However, following protests by students, the plan was withdrawn.
Sanam Sattar, the principal of the Government Girls College in Kharan, confirmed that the college is located in a “red zone,” which is why security agencies wanted to build a check post on the premises. She added that the issue was “resolved” after the students’ protest.
A government official, who asked not to be named, but had participated in the meeting where the decision was taken by the deputy commissioner also confirmed that the check post is no longer being built.
Rizwan Qadir, the assistant commissioner of the Kharan district, told Geo Fact Check that the check post was being built because of the college’s proximity to an FC camp office.
“As of now, it is no longer being constructed. But I can’t say if it will be reconsidered in the future,” he added.
The picture used in the banner image is taken from Reuters.
Follow us on @GeoFactCheck on X (Twitter) and @geo_factcheck on Instagram. If our readers detect any errors, we encourage them to contact us at [email protected]