12 girls' schools burnt down in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan
12 girls' schools burnt down in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan Unidentified persons have burnt down 12 girl’s schools in Pakistan's restive Gilgit-Baltistan. These coordinated attacks have triggered protest by locals who want an answer for safety for their children in educational institutions. On Thursday, the schools in Chilas town, about 130-kilometre from Gilgit, were targeted by unidentified persons on late Thursday night. They also damaged school property across Diamer district. Police officials said, "Explosions were also set off in two schools." After the attacks, local residents staged a protest at Siddique Akbar Chowk. They demanded the arrest of culprits and also safety for educational institutes as they are often targeted by the militants. Police have started a search operation in the area to arrest the perpetrators. According to the district administration, the schools were under construction. 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. According to a report, about 1,500 schools have been destroyed in the tribal belt during the last 10 years. -PTC NEWS
