A school shooting in Parachinar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), claimed the lives of at least seven teachers. This was the second gunfire incident in the Kurram agency on the same day, bringing the total number of deaths in the district to eight.
The teachers present at the school to administer exams were in the staff room when unidentified gunmen opened fire. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in all hospitals in the area, and the assailants remain at large.
While the motive behind the murders is unclear, the teachers killed in both incidents were members of the Shia Muslim minority in the country. The majority of the population in the tribal district is Shia, who often face attacks from militant groups affiliated with the local Taliban movement.
Samina Altaf, Kohat’s education board chairperson, announced that board examinations in Parachinar have been postponed indefinitely. She confirmed that the students inside the examination center were safe. Examinations will proceed as planned in the rest of Kurram district and surrounding areas.
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Pakistan’s tribal regions have long served as havens for terrorists. These areas are a hotbed of militants who frequently exploit the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan to conduct attacks in both countries. In addition, a lengthy and brutal civil war has torn Afghanistan apart.
The tribal territory was the birthplace of the TTP, the umbrella organization responsible for most militant violence in the country. Additionally, K-P’s proximity to tribal regions made it vulnerable to TTP attacks.
Four days ago, tens of thousands of people in K-P’s Lakki Marwat district took to the streets to protest the worsening law and order situation. The demonstration included residents, political activists, civil society members, lawyers, and students. Olasi Pasawon Lakki Marwat called for the protest after terrorists attacked a local college where the army was deployed.
