RAWALPINDI:
Special commemorative events were held at public and private schools in Rawalpindi on Tuesday in remembrance of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar tragedy.
Early in the morning, school assemblies observed a minute of silence to honor the 147 children who lost their lives in this horrific attack. Teachers highlighted the incident and provided detailed information to students about the atrocity.
Parents waited anxiously for their children at home, unaware that their little ones had been martyred. The APS tragedy has created a somber mood in schools. Students paid their respects by lighting candles and displaying paintings reflecting the events of that fateful day. These displays of emotion brought tears to the eyes of many parents. The major schools also organized honor guards in memory of the child martyrs.
Parents, teachers and students collectively demanded that the real perpetrators of the APS attack be brought to justice and punished appropriately. The tragedy remains engraved in the hearts of students and parents.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, the biggest APS commemorative event was held at Government Muslim Higher Secondary School No. 1, Rawalpindi. The ceremony was aimed at paying tribute to the innocent children and teachers who lost their lives and offering prayers for their spiritual upliftment.
The event was attended by special guest of honor Ziaullah Shah, Member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, along with education officials, teachers, students and local dignitaries.
Tariq Mehmood, Director General of Rawalpindi District Education Authority, in his speech said that the entire nation has made great sacrifices against terrorism. He added that the sacrifices of the APS martyrs will never be forgotten. Their martyrdom united the nation and strengthened its resolve to unite against its enemies. He lauded the sacrifices of the Pakistani armed forces and security agencies, noting that their efforts have established an environment of peace and stability in the country.
The special guest also paid tribute to the APS martyrs, calling the tragedy a deep wound to the heart of the nation, while emphasizing that the sacrifices of these children have built a strong wall of resilience against terrorism.
The event concluded with collective prayers for the APS martyrs, seeking upliftment of their ranks, patience and comfort for their families, and peace and prosperity for Pakistan.
Implementation of policies is requested
Participants speaking at a panel discussion on the evolving counter-terrorism response of Pakistan and the challenges of cross-border terrorism, organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in the backdrop of the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS), discussed the need for effective implementation of national security policies and developing a sustained discourse against terrorist violence.
The heinous attack claimed the lives of 147 innocent students and teachers on December 16, 2014 and remains the bloodiest and most painful in the country’s history as six terrorists wearing military uniforms entered the school premises and fired indiscriminately on students, teachers and staff.
At least 147 people, including 122 students, embraced martyrdom, while school principal Tahira Qazi and teacher Sofia Hijab were also martyred in the attack. President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement issued on the 11th anniversary of the tragedy, said Pakistan’s commitment to defeating terrorism was absolute and reiterated that there could be no weakness for terrorists or those who supported, financed, sheltered or justified them.
“There can be no negotiations with those who raise arms against the state or target our children,” Pakistan’s president said while commemorating the martyrs on the 11th anniversary of the incident. He said the memory of the APS martyrs strengthened their resolve.
