Board examinations deferred for indefinite time, says Kohat education board chairperson
UPPER KURRAM
Unidentified assailants on Thursday killed eight schoolteachers in Parachinar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in two incidents, prompting the Kohat board to cancel the ongoing matriculation examination.
According to police claim, unidentified persons killed a teacher Muhammad Sharif by firing at a moving vehicle on Shlozan Road, while after the incident, seven teachers were killed in firing in the staff room of Tarimangal High School.
Police launched a search operation to find the attackers and rescue authorities shifted the dead bodies to a Parachinar hospital where emergency was imposed and security put on high alert in the entire district.
The deceased teachers were identified as Mir Hussain, Jawad Hussain, Naveed Hussain, Jawad Ali, Muhammad Ali, and Ali Hasnain. The teachers belonging to Toori Bangash tribe were performing their examination duties at Tarimangal High School.
According to the police, after the incident, transport routes across the district were closed due to security concerns, while an emergency has been imposed in hospitals as well. According to police sources, the slain teachers, who all belonged to Shia sect, were deputed to monitor matric examination.
According to the local education board, the matriculation examinations organized by the Kohat Board in Parachinar and underway from April 28 have been postponed. President Arif Alvi condemned the killing of teachers, and hoped the culprits will be arrested soon.
“The attack on teachers by the enemies of knowledge is condemnable,” he said in a statement, and prayed for the victims. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his anguish while condemning the incident and demanded that the authorities take action against the attackers.
Federal minister Sajid Hussain Turi condemned the killing of innocent people. “Strict action should be taken against the elements involved in the incident,” he stressed.
