Girls school in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan burnt down

GHRTV Reporter

Nov 9, 2022 - 07:46 Updated: Nov 13, 2022 - 07:46

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Girls school in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan burnt down

Photo: Rubble. Unsplash/Benjamin Kerensa, 2017.

Charlotte Parker

Pakistan and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

A school in Darel valley of Diamer district, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, was set on fire on the evening of the 7th of November 2022. Concern has grown over the arson as there was a pattern of this behaviour previously, in Diamer, in August 2018 where 12 schools were burnt down and for which the Taliban assumed responsibility. The Brogi Girls School was a female only middle school, and has been completely burnt down, including furniture, as a result of the incident. This school was one of those constructed as an incentive towards education in the Diamer district as it has the lowest literacy rate in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

A First Instance Report (FIR) was filed after mere hours, on the morning of the 8th November 2022, and several public officials have condemned the attack and have expressed the intention to quickly and effectively investigate the crime to ensure justice. The FIR was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act’s Section 6, terrorist act, and Section 7, punishment for terrorist act. It also included the sections for acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention, punishment for wrongful restraint, mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees, and mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc. of the Pakistan Penal Code. There was a protest held by students condemning this crime in Darial, also part of Diamer district.

Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, Mohyuddin Wani, reaffirmed the right to girls' education. Wani committed to sending a team of officers and engineers to identify means of quick restoration, and to restore the school within one week with the addition of an IT lab, sports facilities and a library. Wani also stated himself, the Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner, DIG and SSP Diamer and Chillas would be responsible for protecting educational institutions of girls, and reaffirmed that intolerant behaviour towards girls’ education was unacceptable. Likewise, aside from expressing discontent and condemning the attack, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khalid Khursid, had ordered an investigation into the incident on his own initiative, as well as the order to immediately repair the school to resume educational activities.

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