Anti-literacy: Reconstructed girls school blown up

KHAR:

A recently reconstructed girls primary school in Bajaur Agency was blown up by militants late Sunday night, on the eve of International Literacy Day.

Unidentified militants targeted a reconstructed government primary school, confirmed a political administration official of Nawagai subdivision.  “The school was situated in Gurgari Kamangara area of the subdivision.”

He said school had been blown up by militants earlier in 2010 and was rebuilt this year, but the reconstruction has been put to waste by yet another attack. The political administration launched a search operation in the area and arrested 12 suspects under the Frontier Crimes Regulation. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fata has the lowest literacy rate in the country. More than 600 schools have been destroyed in militancy and natural calamities. While in Bajaur more than 97 schools have been destroyed in the past seven years of militancy, 93 of these schools are being reconstructed by a UAE government grant.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2014.