ATTOCK: At least two children died and five were injured after gunmen attacked their school van in Attock's Dheri Kot village on Wednesday, Geo News reported citing rescue officials.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, the children injured in the attack were aged between five and 12 years old. They have been shifted to the hospital, they said.
The children killed in the attack included a nine-year-old and a 10-year-old, while the five injured included two eight-year-olds, one was seven, one one was 12 and one child is four years old.
In the wake of the attack, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has sought a report from Rawalpindi Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak.
The chief minister has also expressed deep sorrow over the death of the two children in the attack.
CM Maryam also directed relevant authorities to provide the best treatment facilities to the children who have sustained injuries.
Attock Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza, in conversation with Geo News, said that the gun attack on the school van was a result of the driver’s personal enmity.
He added that a forest official and his friend were killed due to this enmity last month and the van driver was attacked to avenge the murder.
The DC explained that the driver was injured in the attack, but the children were also attacked.
According to the DC, two girls —seated in the passenger seat with the driver — were killed in the attack, while the driver himself is injured.
He added that the police and administration are busy in search operation.
President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the "cruel" attack on children in Attock.
In a statement, the president said targeting innocent children is a very cruel and shameful act, directing authorities to take strict action against those responsible.
Condemning the unfortunate incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the attack on innocent children is extremely "cruel and barbaric".
He has directed the authorities to take strict action against those responsible.
Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan has also strongly condemned the targeting of the school van, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of the minors.
Describing the attack as "heartbreaking", the governor ordered authorities to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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