CHILAS, August 3: At least 12 girls’ schools were attacked in Chilas, about 130 kilometres from Gilgit late Thursday night, police sources told Geo News.
Unidentified men attacked 12 girls’ schools across Diamer district and damaged school property, according to the police.
The attackers also torched some items in the schools, sources informed further, adding that explosions were also set off in two schools.
Police have started a search operation in the area to arrest those responsible.
Meanwhile, GB Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman took notice of the attacks and summoned a report from the Baltistan commissioner.
According to the district administration, the schools that were attacked were under-construction. Officials added that they will ensure adequate measures are taken to safeguard schools and students.
Talking to a private TV Channel , GB Inspector General of Police Sanaullah Abbasi said the police, with assistance of locals, will help bring the culprits to book.
Following the attacks, local residents staged a protest at Siddique Akbar Chowk demanding the arrest of culprits and seeking safety for educational institutes.
According to Pamir Times, a youth-run news portal from G-B, the following schools have been attacked:
Girls schools are often the target of attack in the northern areas of Pakistan.
In December 2011, at least two girls schools were damaged in low-intensity explosions in Chilas.
Earlier that year, unidentified assailants also blew up two girls’ schools.
The year 2004 also saw a string of attacks on girls schools in Chilas. Nine schools of which eight were for girls were attacked and destroyed in five days in the area in February 2004.
Terrorists used to frequently bomb educational institutes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) before the launch of military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency in June 2014.
Earlier in May, two schools for girls were hit by bomb explosions in Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan Agency.
According to a report, about 1,500 schools have been destroyed in the tribal belt during the last 10 years. -Agencies
