Two children killed, five injured in firing on school van in Attock
ATTOCK/ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, August 22 (SABAH): Two children were killed and five others were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a school van in Attock District’s Dheri Kot area on Thursday.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, the children injured in the attack were aged between five to 12 years old. The school van’s driver was among the five persons injured in the incident. They have been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for treatment, they added.
The two children both girls named Arwa Fatima and Rameen Shafiq died on the spot. While the unidentified gunmen have fled the scene, according to Rescue 1122. The Attock police reached the site of the incident.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa said the incident occurred due to “personal enmity”. “The gunfire was aimed at the driver but also caused harm to the children,” the RPO said.
He added that a case had been registered against the suspects and raids were being carried out to arrest them. RPO Sarfraz expressed the hope that the culprits would be arrested soon. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Attock Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza, in conversation with a private TV channel said that the gun attack on the school van was a result of the driver’s personal enmity. He added that a forest official and his friend were killed due to this enmity last month and the van driver was attacked to avenge the murder. The DC explained that the driver was injured in the attack, but the children were also attacked.
According to the DC, two girls —seated in the passenger seat with the driver — were killed in the attack, while the driver himself is injured. He added that the police and administration are busy in search operation.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the firing on a school van in Attock.
In a statement, the President said targeting innocent children is a highly despicable act. He said strict action should be taken against the culprits. He said prayed for the departed souls and recovery of the injured.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said such kind of attack on children is quite cruel and gruesome act. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls and early recovery of the injured.
The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to take stern action against the responsible and provide best treatment facilities to the inured children.
In the wake of the attack, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharf has sought a report from Rawalpindi Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak. The chief minister has also expressed deep sorrow over the death of the two children in the attack. CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz also directed relevant authorities to provide the best treatment facilities to the children who have sustained injuries.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has also strongly condemned the targeting of the school van, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of the minors.
Describing the attack as “heartbreaking”, the governor ordered authorities to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families. Praying for the injured children to get well soon, he said that those “targeting innocent children did not deserve to be called human beings”.
“The shooting incident on children inside the school van is a monstrosity. Those exhibiting barbarism are not entitled to any concession,” Naqvi asserted.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also condemned the attack, calling for the “strictest possible action” of the perpetrators.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said his “heart was crying tears of blood” after hearing about the deaths of the children. “Those with the blood of students on their hands are beasts,” the PPP MNA said in a statement shared by his party on X.
Bilawal Bhutto said he stood with the bereaved families and prayed for them to have patience. He also expressed the hope that proper treatment of the injured children and the driver would be ensured.