Pakistan: 12 girls' schools burnt down in Gilgit-Baltistan
Twelve girls' schools have been burnt down by unidentified persons in coordinated attacks in Pakistan's restive Gilgit-Baltistan, Geo News reported, quoting police officials. The schools in Chilas town, about 130km from Gilgit, were targeted late last night by unidentified men who also damaged school property across Diamer district, police said. "Explosions were also set off in two schools," the officials said. Here's more.
Local residents stage protest, seek safety for educational institutes
Local residents staged a protest at Siddique Akbar Chowk demanding the arrest of culprits and seeking safety for educational institutes which are often targeted by militants, Geo News reported, adding that the burnt schools were under construction. A search was on to arrest the perpetrators.
Girls' schools often attacked in northern areas of Pakistan
In December 2011, at least two girls' schools were partially damaged in low-intensity explosions in Chilas. Earlier that year, unidentified assailants had also blown up two girls' schools. In 2004, girls' schools in Chilas came under a string of attacks. Nine schools of which eight were girls' schools were attacked and destroyed in five days in the area in February.
Malala Yousafzai shot by Taliban for advocating girls' education
Reportedly, about 1,500 schools have been destroyed in the tribal belt during the last 10 years. Education activist Malala Yousafzai was also shot by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls' education in Swat. In 2017, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that attacks by the Taliban and other militant groups disrupted the education of hundreds of thousands of children, particularly girls, in Pakistan.
