Pakistan: 12 girls' schools burnt down overnight by nameless gang

New Delhi : Schools and colleges in Pakistan has become a hotspot for terrorism. Twelve girls' schools have been set ablaze by unidentified persons, corresponds the attacks in the country’s agitated Gilgit-Baltistan. The attack seems to be triggering protest by local residents who asked safety for educational institutions which are often attacked by the militants, a media reports.

The schools in Chilas town, about 130-kilometre from Gilgit, were targeted late last night by unidentified men who also damaged school property across Diamer district, police said.

"Explosions were also set off in two schools," Geo News reported, quoting police officials.

Following the attacks, local residents staged a protest at Siddique Akbar Chowk demanding the arrest of culprits and seeking safety for educational institutes which are often targeted by the militants, it said.

Pakistan cops have started a search operation in the area to arrest the perpetrators. According to the district administration, the schools were under-construction.

For past few years, girls' schools have been a target for attackers in the northern areas of Pakistan.

In 2011, unidentified persons had also blown up two girls' schools.

In 2004, girls' schools in Chilas came under a string of attacks. Nine schools of which eight were girls' schools were attacked and destroyed in five days in the area in February.

Terrorists have also blown up educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Report confirms that about 1,500 schools have been destroyed in the tribal belt during the last 10 years.