Torched G-B school reopens after revamp

ISLAMABAD:

A girls’ school in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan that was set on fire last week by unknown miscreants, was reopened on Tuesday after it was restored by the Gilgit-Baltistan government.

G-B Parliamentary Secretary for Education Suraiya Zaman inaugurated the Girls Middle School. She was accompanied by top government officials including Chilas commissioner, deputy commissioner and Darel assistant commissioner during the ceremony.

Three miscreants torched the school, located in Darel valley, and fled the scene, according to an FIR. The fire left the school’s furniture completely burnt and part of its corrugated metal roof also collapsed as a result.

The Darel valley elders condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the arsonists. Hundreds of schoolgirls also poured onto the streets in the Astore district and other areas to protest the incident.

The renovated school has an upgraded library and a computer lab, having all the necessary facilities to educate young minds.

The police had registered an FIR of the incident under Sections 6 (terrorist act) and 7 (punishment for a terrorist act) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, besides Pakistan Penal Code’s Sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house, etc.).