LAHORE
Students and people from different walks of life gathered in front of the Punjab Assembly for a protest rally in the memory of all those who lost their lives at the Army Public School, Peshawar on 16 December, 2014 and victims of all other terror attacks.
They expressed solidarity with the families of the martyred children and teachers.
They unanimously demanded the government to declare 16th of December a “National Day Against Extremism and Terrorism” in solidarity with all the victims of terrorism and also as a sign of our commitment against religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism and also suggested that the Year 2016 should be declared a Year for Rwadari (religious tolerance and respect of religious diversity). The participants, who were carrying anti-extremism, and anti-terrorism banners and placards, chanted slogans and demanded the implementation of the National Action Plan in letter and spirit.
The rally was organised on Tuesday by Rwadari Tehreek, which is a non-violent social movement initiated by citizens concerned of Pakistan to counter religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism and promote the respect of all types of diversity, including religious diversity, religious tolerance and to bridge gap between the people of different faiths and religions. Addressing the rally, President of Rwadari Tehreek Abdullah Malik said that “16th of December, 2014, the day when our children were attacked at the Army Public School- Peshawar is the Blackest Day of our history and therefore we can never forget this inhumane act and this is the reason that we are demanding the government to declare 16th of December a “National Day against Extremism and Terrorism”. Abdullah Malik said “now we need concrete plans to promote Rwadari involving state institutions, media and civil society to end the menace of religious extremism and intolerance from our society. The government needs to be more serious and practical to ensure the effective implementation of the “National Action Plan”. “The syllabus of the educational institutions needs to be thoroughly checked and the material which spreads hate on religious, sectarian or any other basis should be eliminated from the curriculum and all those laws which are being misused to instigate people for violence in the society should be revisited” he added.
Chairman of Rwadari Tehreek Samson Salamat said that “even after one year of the APS incident the whole nation is still in a shocking condition. Members of the Rwadari Tehreek in this situation strongly demands a stern action against the terrorists and militant outfits wherever they exist without any recognition of good or bad. At the end of the rally, all the participants, particularly the leadership and the members of the Rwadari Tehreek pledged to continue their struggle against religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism to make Pakistan a peaceful place for all the citizens without any discrimination.
PPP demo: The Pakistan Peoples Party staged a demonstration to condemn the Peshawar tragedy and paid rich tribute to the martyrs who lost lives in the Army Public School incident last year. The demonstration was held at Lalak Jan Chowk and participants included party members Mian Ayub, Farkhanda Malik, Ashraf Bhatti and others.
PTI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Punjab leadership on Tuesday paid rich tribute to the martyrs of Army Public School, Peshawar and vowed to eliminate terrorism from the country.
The PTI Punjab leadership also held Quran Khwani for the martyrs who, a year ago, faced gruesome massacre at the hands of terrorists in Army Public School, Peshawar. The Quran Khawani was attended by Ejaz Chaudhry, former MNA Mehnaz Rafi and others.
Meanwhile, ticket holder of PTI from NA-120 and senior leader Dr Yasmin Raashid, adviser to PTI Chairman, paid rich tribute to Army Public School (APS), Peshawar martyrs on the first anniversary of the massacre, the deadliest terrorist attack where more than 148 children were shot dead by the terrorists.
The innocent children who had embraced martyrdom are our national heroes and we cannot forget their heart-rending courage, she added.
