LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Authorities in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province shut all schools and universities for two days on Friday in an attempt to contain the spread of protests by students over an alleged on-campus rape. The closures in Pakistan’s most populous province affect an estimated 18 million students.

The Punjab government in Pakistan has shut down all educational institutions for three days and arrested over 600 students amid protests over an alleged on-campus rape. Authorities claim it was fake news,

Authorities in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province shut all schools and universities for two days on Friday in to contain the spread of protests by students over an alleged on-campus rape. The closures in Pakistan’s most populous province affect an estimated 18 million students.

Protests sparked by an alleged rape incident in Pakistan's Punjab province took a violent turn, resulting in widespread clashes, vandalism, and arson across various cities.