The Private Schools Association Kech and heads of private educational institutions have announced that schools across Makran will remain closed on October 6 following an armed attack on a private school in the Menaz area of Buleda.
The announcement was made during an emergency press conference at the Turbat Press Club, where association leaders and school representatives condemned the attack on CCTV cameras installed at Ruzhn School and called for greater protection of educational institutions and action against those responsible.
Addressing the press conference, Ruzhn School Buleda Director Zahoor Ahmed, Private Schools Association President Sudhir Luqman and other association representatives warned that if attacks on educational institutions continued, the scope of their protest could be expanded across Balochistan.
Zahoor Ahmed said that on Friday, around eight masked armed men allegedly entered the school premises and opened fire on CCTV cameras installed at the institution, damaging them. He said the incident created fear and panic among local residents and the educational community.
He added that this was not the first incident involving educational institutions in Buleda. According to him, similar incidents had previously occurred at Saach School, Gulbang School, Sanj School Menaz and Kalkashan School. He said the repeated targeting of educational institutions represented a concerning trend that was disrupting educational activities in the area.
Association representatives stated that approximately 40 per cent of students in Makran are enrolled in private educational institutions. They said such incidents not only disrupt students’ education but also create fear and uncertainty among parents, teachers and local communities.
Educational institutions in several parts of Balochistan, particularly in Makran, have periodically faced threats, attacks and other security-related challenges. Education-sector representatives have repeatedly expressed concern that such incidents adversely affect learning activities and undermine access to education for students.
The association leaders said school owners would continue their efforts to promote education despite such incidents. They called on the district administration and relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the attack, ensure effective security measures for educational institutions, identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
They jointly announced that all private educational institutions across Makran would remain closed on October 6 in protest against the incident. They further stated that the issue concerned not only one school but the broader educational environment and the future of students across the region, urging authorities to address the matter without delay.