* Judicial Magistrate Rabia Riaz orders the immediate release of all 10 guards; however, two guards report being detained again at Muslim Town Police Station.
* Guards allege police torture during custody; University spokesperson denies reports of protests at the VC office.
LAHORE (Special Reporter) — The ongoing conflict between Punjab University security guards and the police has taken a new turn as the court has dismissed the case against the security personnel.
Court Ruling and Re-detention Judicial Magistrate Rabia Riaz of Model Town, Lahore, dismissed the case against all 10 security guards and ordered their immediate release. However, despite the court order, sources indicate that two of these guards were subsequently detained again by police at the Muslim Town Police Station while attempting to retrieve their belongings.
Background of the Incident The dispute originated during routine security checks when guards stopped a car carrying a man and a woman inside the university campus late at night. The guards maintained that the vehicle was intercepted based on a wireless call, as the campus was officially closed at the time.
According to reports, the woman in the car identified herself as a relative of a senior police officer and facilitated a phone call between the guards and the officer. Shortly thereafter, a heavy police contingent consisting of five vehicles arrived at the scene, apprehended the 10 security personnel, and subsequently registered a formal case against them.
Allegations and University Stance The guards, who secured their release through judicial intervention, have alleged that they were subjected to severe physical torture while in police custody. They have urged the university administration to take strict legal action against the police for their alleged high-handedness and biased conduct.
Conversely, a spokesperson for Punjab University has contradicted claims regarding the protests, stating that the guards had merely gone to meet the Vice Chancellor and that no formal protest occurred on campus grounds.