An armed attack on a school van in the Attock district of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province resulted in the death of two girls and left six others injured, including the van driver, on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The van, which was transporting children to school, was targeted early in the morning, as reported by local law enforcement.
The attackers appear to have specifically targeted the driver, among the injured, due to a persisting personal feud, according to authorities. Local police official Mohammad Shakil stated that initial findings point towards a longstanding disagreement between the driver and some individuals as a possible motive for the attack.
The assailants, who were on motorcycles, staged an ambush on the van as it was ferrying students to school. They swiftly fled the scene after the attack, making it challenging for the police to trace them. A manhunt has been initiated by the police to capture the culprits, who are still on the run.
The two unfortunate child victims were identified as Rameen Shafiq, 9, and Arwa Jamshaid, 10. In addition, five other children, ranging in age from 4 to 12, and the 48-year-old driver were injured in the incident and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The incident has been widely condemned by Pakistan’s political leaders. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed stern disapproval of the attack, stating it to be a harsh and brutal act. He vowed to ensure swift justice for the victims and pledged to make efforts to arrest those accountable for the crime.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed sorrow over the tragic loss and urged for improved security measures to prevent such attacks on children in the future. Naqvi has directed the authorities to conduct an exhaustive investigation of the incident and hasten their efforts to capture the culprits.
UNICEF’s Pakistan office issued a statement expressing profound sorrow over the incident and extended their deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The statement emphasized the necessity for increased protection of children in conflict-prone regions.
Law enforcement agencies have initiated a manhunt for the armed attackers and are conducting searches in the vicinity in an attempt to bring the culprits to justice.
