GILGIT: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Police Gauhar Nafees has suspended four police officers for alleged negligence in matter pertaining to the burning of schools.
Talking to journalists, he said that two officers would be reinstated following an assurance to arrest the culprits involved in the burning of the schools. He said that within 24 hours, mastermind behind the incident would be identified.
He said that a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman was held which was also attended by the Inspector General of Police, the chief secretary and the force commander. During the meeting, the police have been directed to take strong action against the persons involved in the incident.
During the night between August 3 and 4, some unidentified militants set on fire 12 schools for girls in Gilgit Baltistan and later on reports were received that two more schools were set ablaze. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on August 4 had himself taken a suo motu notice of the incidents in Diamer and Chilas.
Later on, the police said that the suspected militant involved in burning of 14 girl schools was killed in the exchange of fire during the search operation and the police official was also killed. The regional government has directed the administration to rebuild all the schools within 15 days and announced to start classes in these schools from September first.