High School Dropouts Soar in Peshawar Due to Ongoing Armed Clashes
Government schools on the outskirts of Peshawar are witnessing a surge in dropout rates due to frequent armed conflicts over a land dispute between two groups. Teachers, along with education officials and local leaders, recently intervened by meeting with the warring parties and urging them to refrain from gunfire during school hours.
The situation has caused panic among students and teachers, leading to a significant decline in attendance. In one school, attendance has plummeted from 400 to just 25 students. The ongoing clashes have made the area unsuitable for in-person education, and students and teachers live in constant fear. The root of the conflict appears to be a land dispute escalated by a property developer’s interest in the area.
Security official martyred in Parachinar
A Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom in Parachinar while an alleged militant commander was gunned down in Mardan in two separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the small hours of Friday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said an encounter took place between security forces and alleged militants in Parachinar, Kurram, in which Lance Naik Ghairat Khan, 33, embraced martyrdom.
In a separate incident, an alleged militant ring leader, Faisal, was gunned down during an intelligence-based operation in Katalang area of district Mardan. The military’s media wing added Faisal was actively “involved in numerous militant activities and was wanted by law enforcement agencies”.
Tank Tehsil Chairman Survives Assassination Attempt
Tank Tehsil Chairman Saddam Bhettani and his companions narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the Khari Haider area.
However, they all emerged unscathed, though their vehicle sustained damage. Saddam Bhettani, affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and the nephew of former JUIF lawmaker Mahmood Bhettani, was the target of the attack. Following the incident, a significant police presence arrived, secured the area, and initiated a manhunt for the assailants.