Islamabad : Pakistani police on Sunday killed the prime suspect behind the brazen arson attacks targeting 14 schools, mostly all-girls’, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, a media report said.
The schools were burnt down over a period of two days in coordinated attacks in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district, triggering protest by local residents who sought safety for educational institutions. “The prime suspect believed to be responsible for the torching of 14 girls’ schools over a period of two days in Gilgit-Baltistan’s was killed during a search operation in the Tanger area today,” Diamer Police Spokesperson Muhammad Wakeel was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.
Shafiq, who has no known association with any militant or terrorist outfit, but is referred to as a ‘militant’ and ‘militant commander’ by police — was the prime suspect behind the attacks targeting girls’ schools, it said.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah said 10 to 12 police parties carried out raids in Diamer on Saturday night.
A police constable was killed and another wounded in a gunbattle with armed suspects. So far 18 suspects have been arrested.