PESHAWAR: Five years ago, on 16th day of December, 2014, six terrorists attacked Army Public School (APS) here killing 132 pupils and nine staffers.
After an eight-hour-long operation, Pak Army personnel killed all the terrorists and cleared the school area. Later, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility of the attack.
Several facilitators linked to the massacre had been killed since 2014 when Pak Army intensified offensive against militants in tribal areas and the government launched National Action Plan (NAP).
Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, then Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif, leaders of various political and religious parties unanimously condemned the attack.
President Arif Alvi held that it was hard to commemorate the day without tears in one’s eyes. He said the nation could not forget the massacre of APS students and teachers..
Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged that the militant mindset would not be allowed to take over the country: “Militants will not be allowed to make the nation hostage to its bigoted vision”.
Prime Minister said the blood of the innocent united the entire nation against all forms of extremism, terrorism, violence and hatred. He said nation also lauds the sacrifices given by armed forces, police and law enforcing agencies in the fight against terrorism.
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa held: “APS carnage will never be forgotten. Five of the involved terrorists have been hanged through military courts. Salute to martyrs and their families. We have come a long way in failing terrorism as a nation. United we move towards lasting peace and prosperity of Pakistan”.
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COAS said the entire nation was united for lasting peace and prosperity of Pakistan. In his message on the occasion of 5th anniversary of Army Public School tragedy, the Army Chief said Pakistan has come a long way in failing terrorism as a nation.
Stating that the APS carnage would never be forgotten, COAS informed that five of the involved terrorists had been hanged through military courts. He saluted the martyrs and their families.
Referring to the terrorist attack at APS five years ago, Chairman PPP-P Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held that extremism and terrorism were the enemies of peace and human development.
He paid rich tribute to the victims of Army Public School (APS), Peshawar on the 5th anniversary of the tragic attack that led to the deaths of 132 students at the hands of terrorists.
Bilawal Bhutto maintained that those who had facilitated and sponsored the scourge of terrorism had committed crimes against humanity and it was the responsibility of the nation to say Never Again.
He held that extremism and terrorism had been used as a tool to advance certain vested interests and impose specific agendas in an attempt to hold Pakistanis hostage to constant fear.
According to him PPP had always maintained its stance against terrorism and had been bold and clear in its message that the people of Pakistan deserve to live their lives, free from threats to personal and religious freedoms.
Bilawal claimed that PPP had suffered greatly for its stand as its leadership and workers were martyred in this fight against authoritarianism in all its forms, he added.
PPP Chairman noted the killings of innocent children at APS Peshawar would continue to haunt and would remain as a black-spot in the history of Pakistan unless Pakistanis fought back against the forces that not just commit but also aid and abet terrorism.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that the nation has paid heavily in its struggle against terrorists and their dictatorial enablers. Among the blood of the 60,000 innocent victims of terrorism is also the blood of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated for standing up to terrorism and the dictatorship that enabled and bred it, Chairman PPP-P stated.
He pledged that the PPP would continue to be on the forefront in the battle against extremism and terrorism. He added that PPP-P would always stand for an egalitarian, peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan and it would continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of all Pakistanis.
Relevant pieces published in 2015 at the first anniversary of Army Public School Peshawar massacre:
PESHAWAR: The first anniversary of brutal attack on Army Public School Peshawar is being observed in every nook and cranny of the country today with the firm resolve to completely root out terrorism. The main function to mark the day is under way at Army Public School in Peshawar. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif are attending the ceremony. All the federal educational institutions are observing Martyrs of Army Public School Day, while public holiday has been declared in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Various organizations are holding functions including rallies, seminars, and symposia to pay homage to the martyrs. A ceremony will also be held in Ankara today to pay homage to the martyrs of Army Public School Peshawar.
Solidarity Rally in New York to Mark Army Public School Attack Anniversary
NEW YORK: A peace rally with candlelight vigil and interfaith prayers was held here to mark the first anniversary of APS attack in Peshawar and to condemn Islamophobia.Those who participated in the rally included American lawmakers, interfaith leaders, Pakistani-Americans, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and other members of the Civil Society. Participants have vehemently condemned the prevailing Islamophobia that imbibed fear among the Pakistani Americans in particular and Muslims in general. (NewsPakistan.TV special correspondent in New York).
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