Fact-Check: Govt college in KP restricts female students' participation in extracurricular activities

The screenshot of a letter circulating online purportedly shows a public college in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa restricting its female students from participating in extracurricular activities such as political events and birthday parties during and after college hours.

It further instructs them to proceed directly to college from their homes without stopping anywhere.

The claim is true. The letter is real.

Claim

A letter surfaced on social media in Pakistan, prompting many online users to question its authenticity.

The letter, dated April 29, was issued by the Government Postgraduate College Timergara in the Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It allegedly directs all female students not to partake in any extracurricular activities, including political functions, birthday parties, outings, and “unauthorised stage-ins” during and after college hours.

It further mandates that once female students leave home to travel to college, they are expected to be either in the college or on the way to and from the college, with no other possibility.

Additionally, the letter instructs parents of female students to remain in touch with the college administration.

Fact

The directive was indeed issued by the administration of Government Postgraduate College Timergara on April 29 for its over 800 female students. This was confirmed by assistant professor and chief proctor Riaz Muhammad, whose signature appears on the letter.

“The [female] students can take part in regular activities like sports activities, debates etc,” Muhammad told Geo Fact Check over the phone, “But not extra-curricular activities.”

He further admitted that the college was co-education but the order had been issued only for female students, not the male students.

“Cultures are different in different provinces,” he said defending his decision.

There are more than 2,000 students in the bachelors for science programme at the college of which 840 students are female.

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