Quetta, Oct 28: At least three female students were injured after masked gunmen opened fire inside a girls’ degree college in Balochistan’s Nushki district, with one student reported to be in critical condition, local media reported, citing the college administration.
According to the administration, three armed men entered the college premises on Tuesday, damaged surveillance cameras and vandalised the principal’s office before opening fire on students. The incident has triggered concerns over the safety of educational institutions and drawn condemnation from student organisations and human rights groups.
The injured students were shifted to Mir Gul Khan Naseer Teaching Hospital in Nushki for treatment, The Balochistan Post reported. One of the injured was stated to be in critical condition, while the other two were also receiving medical attention.
The victims were identified as Mehmoona and Maryam, both residents of Qaziabad, and Rukhsana from the Killi Mengal region of Balochistan.
The attack has renewed concerns over the security of students in the province, where rights groups and student organisations have raised questions about the safety of educational facilities and the impact of violence on access to education.
Student Organisation Condemns Attack
The Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) strongly condemned the shooting, stating that educational institutions were once again being targeted and raising concerns about the safety of students.
The organisation said that both female and male students were facing uncertainty over their security, adding that earlier incidents involving teachers and professors had already affected the educational environment.
“Students, whether female or male, are in a state of uncertainty about their safety and security. Previously, teachers and professors were targeted, and now students are being targeted, which is seriously intimidating the educational environment,” the BSAC stated.
The committee stressed that quality education requires a safe and supportive environment in which students can pursue learning without fear or uncertainty.
It further described the reported increase in incidents at schools and other educational institutions as a serious concern, arguing that inadequate security measures for students, teachers and professors could adversely affect literacy and educational opportunities in Balochistan.
The organisation called attention to the need for a secure educational environment, particularly for students who are already dealing with uncertainty over their safety.
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Baloch Yakjehti Committee Raises Concerns
The human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) also strongly condemned the shooting at the girls’ college. It additionally referred to the reported forced closure of Vision Public School in the Qadir Abad area by armed men and held Pakistani authorities responsible for both incidents.
In its statement, the BYC alleged that attacks on educational institutions were intended to create fear among students and discourage families from sending their daughters to school.
“The state fears an educated Baloch woman more than anything else. She reads, she asks questions, she speaks at gatherings, and she leads marches. That is why the bullets were aimed at a girls’ college,” the organisation stated.
The rights body further alleged that the objective was to force girls to remain at home by creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity around education.
According to the BYC, armed men had entered Vision Public School in Qadir Abad shortly before the college shooting, harassed children, shut down the school and warned its administration against reopening it.
The allegations have added to concerns raised by rights groups about the safety of students and the ability of educational institutions to operate without intimidation.
Baloch Voice for Justice Questions Security Arrangements
The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) also expressed grave concern over the attack on female students, stating that Nushki had been under a Pakistani military siege and a curfew-like situation for several months.
The organisation questioned how armed individuals could enter the girls’ college, damage CCTV cameras and the principal’s office, and open fire on students despite what it described as a stringent security environment.
According to the BVJ, the incident raised serious questions about the effectiveness of security arrangements in the area. The organisation said the reported attack highlighted the need to examine how armed individuals were able to enter the institution and carry out the shooting.
Its statement added to demands for greater attention to the protection of students and educational facilities amid continuing concerns over the security situation in the district.
Baloch Women Forum Warns of Impact on Girls’ Education
The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) condemned the attack, describing it as a serious threat to female students and their access to education.
The organisation noted that educational deprivation in Balochistan was already a concern and warned that continued attacks on female students, particularly if those responsible were not held accountable, could worsen the situation.
It said incidents of violence at educational institutions could affect families’ confidence in sending their daughters to schools and colleges.
The forum also highlighted the wider consequences of insecurity for women pursuing education and employment, stressing that the effects could extend beyond individual victims to families and communities.
The condemnation from student organisations and rights groups reflects growing concern over the reported targeting of educational institutions in Balochistan. The groups have called attention to the need for students, teachers and educational staff to be able to study and work in a safe environment.
The shooting in Nushki, along with the separate allegations concerning Vision Public School in Qadir Abad, has placed the safety of educational institutions at the centre of renewed concerns among rights advocates and student groups. (IANS)
