ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI:
A three year old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a janitor at Westminster School, Bahria Town, Islamabad.
According to reports, a voice note from the victim’s mother began circulating in the twin cities, containing details of the alleged event. The child narrated the event to her parents, which led them to demand CCTV footage from the school administration. This was initially denied on the grounds that CCTV cameras were not present at the school. The school later provided CCTV footage on 11 September, which raised suspicions that the footage had been doctored.
Concerned parents and student organizers report that initial meetings with administrative officials yielded evasive responses rather than a transparent investigation. Friction intensified over the handling of critical CCTV evidence, with school officials citing technical glitches, restricting access to footage viewing, and enforcing rigid protocols that critics argue were designed to shield the institution from liability rather than uncover the truth.
The administration’s refusal to provide direct, empathetic, and clear communication sparked immediate mobilization. A wave of student led protests was called on 10 September, and public outrage has erupted across the campus of Westminster International School following disturbing allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate physical contact involving campus personnel against a young pupil. The controversy has triggered an institutional crisis marked by administrative stonewalling, widespread student demonstrations, and escalating calls for direct law enforcement intervention.
Local civil society activists, parent groups, and progressive student organizations have rallied in solidarity, condemning the school’s bureaucratic posture and demanding that external legal authorities be granted immediate and unhindered oversight.
Speaking to The Student’s Herald, President of the Progressive Students Collective, Ali Abdullah Khan, said that student harassment in Pakistani educational institutions is a systemic issue driven by unchecked administrative authority and a lack of accountability. He criticized existing anti harassment committees for being faculty dominated, which often leads to cover ups aimed at protecting institutional reputations. To address this, he demanded the restoration of student unions and mandatory student representation, particularly of female students, on functional campus anti harassment committees. He presented empowering students with real institutional power as the essential step toward holding perpetrators accountable and putting an end to recurring harassment.
