DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Unidentified armed men blew up the Government Girls High School Akbari with explosives in the limits of Ghulam Imam police station in Tank district on Friday.

According to police, the attackers had planted an explosive device inside the school building, which detonated with a loud bang, completely destroying the structure.

Locals said that armed groups have previously targeted several basic health units (BHUs) and schools on the outskirts of Tank, setting some on fire while blowing up others.

Tank DPO Shabbir Hussain Shah confirmed the incident, saying that unidentified militants had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) inside the school building. The device exploded with a bang, resulting in the total destruction of the building.

He further said that since the premises were empty at the time, no casualties occurred.

Attackers planted IED inside the building; no casualties reported

Police have launched an investigation.

According to local elders, nearly a dozen health centres and schools in the surrounding areas of Tank have been destroyed in similar bomb attacks, while several others have been set on fire.

They said armed groups have also killed around two dozen police and government officials in the region. They added that the law and order situation in Tank district has deteriorated significantly over the past year.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2025