Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KARACHI467
2008-08-08 06:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:  

QUETTA - GIRLS, SCHOOL BURNED

Tags:  PTER SOCI PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6114
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKP #0467 2210617
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 080617Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL KARACHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0570
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0038
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0171
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0237
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1752
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2551
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4434
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000467 

USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PTER SOCI PK
SUBJECT: QUETTA - GIRLS, SCHOOL BURNED

Classified By: Classified by Kay Anske, Consul General, 1.4 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000467

USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PTER SOCI PK
SUBJECT: QUETTA - GIRLS, SCHOOL BURNED

Classified By: Classified by Kay Anske, Consul General, 1.4 b and d.


1. (U) An August 4 report in the Dawn newspaper pointed to
&suspected Taliban militants8 as responsible for the
destruction of a private girls, school in a Quetta suburb.
The article, accompanied by a photograph of a destroyed
computer laboratory, said that attackers had used petroleum
to ignite a fire that gutted four rooms of the school.


2. (C) However, sources told Post a different story.
Faizullah Korajo, Superintendent of Police Administration for
the Capital City Police, blamed relatives of children who
were beaten by a teacher who works at the school. Another
police source told PolOff that the damage was limited to only
one room.


3. (C) Abdul Gaffar, a Central Committee Member of the
Nationalist Party (NP),corroborated this version of events
and added that the burning of the school was preceded by a
letter from angry residents condemning the teacher,s
actions. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the
fire and all sources that Post spoke with about the incident
denied evidence of Taliban involvement.


4. (C) Comment: While Taliban members are certainly
present in Quetta, there have not been any reported burnings
of girls, schools in the city or its environs. This
particular incident, which appears to have resulted from a
dispute with one of the school,s teachers, highlights the
increasing media concern over Taliban and religious militant
activities in the country.
Anske