Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered the immediate reconstruction of a girls’ school which was recently blown up in North Waziristan.

A private girls’ school was blown up by unidentified militants in Tehsil Shewa of North Waziristan district on Wednesday night, according to police sources.

They said the militants had first tortured the school watchman and later blew up two rooms in the building. Local sources had said that it was the only private girls’ school in the area and its administration had received multiple threat letters in the past.

Condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms in a statement, the prime minister ordered authorities to immediately identify the alleged attackers and ensure they received “exemplary punishment”.

He ordered the authorities to rebuild the damaged portion of the school at the government’s expense, further directing them to ensure the reconstruction was promptly completed.

PM Shehbaz said that the government would “make sure terrorists get their comeuppance” for trying to deprive girls of their right to an education. “We will never let them succeed in their nefarious designs,” the statement added.

The prime minister reiterated the government’s resolve to provide equal opportunities for education to all, including girls, with the goal of empowering them to play their role in the development of the country.

Similar attacks took place in May of last year when two government schools for girls in Mirali were blown up. No loss of life was reported in the incidents.

Around 500 girls were enrolled in the two schools — Government Girls Middle School, Noor Jannat and Government Girls Middle School, Yunus Kot — which were targeted by the attackers around midnight.

Opinion

Editorial

Maulana’s message
Updated 11 Mar, 2025

Maulana’s message

The problem now is that most jihadi fighters, ideologues refuse to end their "struggle" on advice of state or mainstream clerics.
President’s speech
11 Mar, 2025

President’s speech

PRESIDENT Asif Zardari, addressing Monday’s joint session of parliament to mark the start of a new parliamentary...
Indian takeover
11 Mar, 2025

Indian takeover

BY the time the Champions Trophy final ended, the only indicators that the tournament had been hosted by Pakistan...
Mosquito season
10 Mar, 2025

Mosquito season

AS temperatures rise, the threat of dengue looms large over Pakistan. Its warning signs have already arrived. Dengue...
Reckless rhetoric
10 Mar, 2025

Reckless rhetoric

ONCE again, the Indian leadership gave in to their worst impulses, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar...
Water scarcity
Updated 10 Mar, 2025

Water scarcity

The need to meet climate challenge is even greater when Pakistan is prone to multiple disastrous events at the same time.