HED Punjab forms two bodies to probe on-campus death

• Principal Dr Alia Khan says college admin to provide support to victim’s parents

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Higher Education Department on Friday ordered the creation of two committees to investigate the death of a 20-year-old university student whose body was found in a hostel of the Government Post-Graduate College for Girls.

After the student’s body was found, the students at the college hostel started protesting and chanting slogans against the college administration. Reportedly, the student had reportedly complained on Thursday night to a hostel warden that she was feeling unwell.

College principal Dr Alia Sohail Khan denied reports that the victim had asked to be taken to the hospital. Addressing a press conference, she said that the deceased student’s family members had said that she had a heart condition.

She said that the college administration was with the student’s family and would provide them with any support they need. She said that the victim’s body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. “Whatever is found in the medical report, on the basis of that, whoever is responsible will be punished,” she said.

She said that there have previously been incorrect reports about the college and that there was pressure from parents to admit children into the hostels. Deputy Director of Colleges Sher Ahmed Satti said that the Punjab Higher Education Department secretary had taken notice of the student’s death and two separate committees have been formed to investigate the matter.

He said that a legal investigation would be carried out. The police said that the student was not murdered but had died of natural causes. Inspector Mirza Javed said that her body was shifted to a hospital for a post-mortem examination which would reveal the real cause of the death.

The preliminary examination report compiled by officials at the Holy Family Hospital said that the student had died of natural causes and no marks of torture or bites from venomous animals were found on her body. Samples were collected for further examination and testing.