Gilgit: As police have ramped up operation against militants behind attacks on educational institutions another girls school was burnt down in Diamer district of Gilgit Baltistan on Sunday.
According to the police sources, in an exchange of fire between the security personnel and armed men, a suspected militant was killed. The suspect was said to be behind the killing of a policeman during a raid on a house in Tanger tehsil of Diamer.
One police constable was martyred while another injured when the unidentified persons opened fire on the police party conducting raids for arrest of the culprits in Tanger area early this morning, sources added.
18 suspects behind the attacks on schools have been arrested during raids in different parts of the district with six FIRs registered at different police stations.
In the latest attack, a government girls’ school in Darel tehsil of Diamer was torched by the militants who are opposed to girls’ education.
Yesterday, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took suo moto notice of the incident and asked to file reports from the GB home secretary and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Secretary on this matter.
Caretaker Prime Minister retired Justice Nasirul Mulk also took notice of the attacks on educational institutions and ordered strict action under the law against the elements involved in the torching of schools in Chilas, Gilgit-Baltistan.
Talking to Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman via telephone, he strongly condemned the incident. He said burning of schools is not acceptable at all.
The schools that were burnt down include Girls Primary School located in Ronay, Chilas; Girls School Takya; Social Action Programme (SAP) Primary School in Hudur area; Primary School in Tabor village of Darel Valley; SAP Primary School in Tabor, Darel; Girls Primary School Sheegay Manikal, Darel Valley; Girls Primary School Galee Bala, Tangir Valley; Primary School Galee Bala, Tangir Valley; Girls Primary School Khanbary; Girls Primary School Gyal Village.
Gilgit-Baltistan has been relatively free of the militant violence as compared to the other parts of Pakistan. Basic education needs in GB are being met by private or community organisations, and a large number of primary schools have been set up by non-government organisations.
