Girls return to school in Swat (snaps)

[LahoreEstate]

Girls return to school in Swat Thousands of hardliners have spent nearly two years waging a terrifying campaign to enforce sharia law in Swat, beheading opponents, bombing girls' schools, outlawing entertainment and fighting government forces. On Feb. 23 schools reopened in Swat but the turnout was low as many still feared for their safety.


Female students attend a morning class at Mingora in the troubled Swat valley on February 23, 2009. All boys' and some girls' schools reopened in Pakistan's Swat valley on February 23 but despite a truce between the government and insurgents security fears kept attendance low, officials said.


Girls assemble in a school in Mingora. –AP Photo/Sherin Zada


Students read books after their school was reopened in Swat Valley February 23, 2009. The Pakistan army said on Monday it had ceased operations against Taliban militants in the northwestern valley of Swat, and an Islamist cleric asked for troops to be shifted to 'safer places' to give peace a chance.


Students attend prayers before classes start. – Reuters/Abdul Rehman


Girls head for their classes in a private school in Mingora. A hardline cleric dispatched by Pakistan to negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban said the right of above fourth grade girls to attend school was still under discussion.


Students take part in physical training after their school was reopened. – Reuters/Abdul Rehman

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