Matric exams postponed in North Waziristan due to security situation

The Secondary School Certificate Second Annual Examination in North Waziristan has been postponed due to the ongoing security situation, according to the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Bannu. The decision was made following instructions from the North Waziristan deputy commissioner and was announced in a press release on November 9.

The examinations, originally scheduled to commence on October 12, will be rescheduled, with a revised timetable to be announced later. However, the cadet college at Razmak and Bakakhel tehsil will hold their exams as per the original schedule.

A curfew has been imposed in the Mir Ali area, including regions from Bobali to Isha, which will remain in effect until the completion of the security operation in those areas. The Bannu-Miranshah Road will also be closed for traffic during this period. Area Representative Malik Rohullah Khan informed residents that they could visit markets for essential items in Miranshah and Datta Khel, but travel outside North Waziristan could be facilitated via Miranshah, Isha, and Razmak routes.

North Waziristan has faced security challenges for a long time, with security forces conducting an intelligence-based operation in Muzak village last month, neutralizing two terrorist hideouts. They recovered a significant cache of improvised explosive devices, weapons, and ammunition hidden inside mosques. In October, the region recorded 40 terrorist attacks, compared to 58 in September, marking a 31% decline in violence, and fatalities reduced from 90 to 38, a 58% decrease.