School Van Attack in Attock Leaves Two Children Dead, Five Injured

School Van Attack

ATTOCK: At least two children were killed, and five others were injured after gunmen opened fire on a school van in the Dheri Kot area of Attock on Thursday, according to rescue officials.

The tragic attack occurred in the early hours, sending shockwaves through the community and prompting swift responses from both local authorities and national leaders.

The ages of the injured children range from five to 12 years old. Rescue officials, who were among the first responders on the scene, quickly transported the injured children to Asfandyar Bukhari District Hospital in Attock.

The deceased were identified as two young girls, nine-year-old Arwa Fatima and ten-year-old Rameen Shafiq, who tragically lost their lives at the scene of the attack.

The injured children include two eight-year-olds, a seven-year-old, a 12-year-old, and a four-year-old. They are currently receiving medical treatment, and the severity of their injuries is being assessed by hospital staff.

Following the attack, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her profound sorrow over the loss of the young lives. She immediately sought a detailed report on the incident from Rawalpindi Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak.

CM Maryam also directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the injured children receive the best possible medical care and treatment.

Initial investigations suggest that the attack may have been motivated by personal enmity. Attock Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza revealed that the gunmen targeted the school van due to a personal feud involving the van driver, Afzaal.

Last month, a forest official and his friend were killed as a result of this ongoing enmity, and the attack on the school van appears to have been an act of revenge against the driver.

The Deputy Commissioner explained that the driver was injured in the attack, but the gunmen also indiscriminately targeted the children inside the van. The two young girls who were killed were seated in the front passenger seat next to the driver.

The police and local administration have launched a search operation to apprehend the gunmen, who fled the scene immediately after the attack.

A report on the incident has already been sent to the Rawalpindi commissioner as authorities intensify their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from national leaders. President Asif Ali Zardari denounced the attack as a “cruel” and “shameful” act, particularly targeting innocent children.

In a statement, he urged authorities to take stringent action against those responsible and ensure that justice is served.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the incident, describing the attack on the children as “extremely cruel and barbaric.” He called for immediate and decisive action to be taken against the culprits.

Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan echoed these sentiments, expressing his deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of the young victims.

He described the attack as “heartbreaking” and emphasized the need for a swift investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. The governor has ordered authorities to expedite their investigation and ensure that those responsible face the full force of the law.

The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, as families and residents grapple with the senseless violence that claimed the lives of two young children and left several others injured.

The authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack as they work to bring closure to the grieving families and ensure that justice is served.