5 More Schools Destroyed in Swat Valley

Officials say that two boy’s schools were blown up in union council Banrh while other three girl’s schools were destroyed in Engaro Dherai.

Recent action took by Taliban leaves questions mark on federal minister Sherry Rehman last Sunday’s statement that government will provide protection to the schools.

With the recent incident total number of destroyed schools stands 178, including 114 schools for girls and 56 for boys.

Following the incident Private Management School Association has announced to close their institution on immediate basis. However provincial minister for education Sardar Hussain Babak said that government educational institutions are closed till 28th February due to summer vacations. Babak further added that these institutions will be re-opened till 1st March 2009.

Earlier militants in Swat district had threatened to close all government and private educational institutions till 15th January 2009. People from different sectors have criticized this move of Taliban.
While Tehreke Taliban Pakistan‘s spokesman Molvi Omer has said that Talibanhave no such intention to ban education in the country and it was the decision of local Taliban headed by radical cleric Molvi Fazlullah in Swat.