NA, Senate recommend Dec 16 as Pakistan Children’s Day

In memory of APS martyrs Resolutions say tragedy has strengthened nation’s resolve to fight, destroy and eliminate perpetrators of heinous crime

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) and the Senate Wednesday passed two unanimous resolutions paying tribute to the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar observing that the tragic incident had further strengthened the nation’s resolve to fight against terrorism.

The routine business of two houses was suspended to pass resolutions in connection with the first anniversary of APS tragedy and hold debate on the barbaric incident.

The resolution, moved by Federal Minister Zahid Hamid in the NA, expressing profound grief and sadness over the martyrdom of students and teachers of APS Peshawar on 16th December last year was passed unanimously.

The House condemned the barbaric act and termed it a crime against humanity and once again expressed deepest sympathy with the families of victims.The House recommended that December 16 should be observed as Pakistan Children Day in memory of the martyrs.

It also recommended that ‘dua’ for the martyrs and peace and prosperity of the country should be offered every year in all the educational institutions of the country.The resolution noted with appreciation that pursuant to that dastardly attack, operation Zarb-e-Azb launched by valiant armed forces proved to be successful.

It said the national unity forged by this heartrending tragedy had further strengthened the resolve of the people of Pakistan to fight, destroy and eliminate the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

On a request from the Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah, the Speaker stopped members from thumping desks during speeches.Shaista Pervaiz, a PML-N member, became emotional while paying tribute to the Shuhada of APS and could not complete her speech.

Syed Naveed Qamar of PPPP termed the APS incident tragic but said the government had disappointed the nation by not implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) in letter and spirit. “Creation just of military courts will not serve the purpose. It also requires reforms in seminaries and Fata,” he said.

Asad Umar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the nation should learn a lesson from the past so that such incidents were not repeated in future. He also called for measures to root out terrorism and reforms in the education sector.

Ayesha Syed of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said the APS tragedy also coincided with the ‘Fall of Dhaka’ in 1971 when Pakistan was dismembered.

Sheikh Aftab Ahmad and Major (R) Tahir Iqbal of PML-N, Abdul Rashid Godil, Abdul Waseem, Saman Sultana Jaffery of MQM, Naeema Kishwar of JUI-F, Ghous Bakhsh Mehar of PML-F, Ejazul Haq (PML Z) and other members also paid tributes to the martyrs of APS whose sacrifices had united the whole nation.

They said it was the need of the hour to rise above political affiliations and personal interests and struggle jointly to root out the terrorism.

The Senate resolution placed on record its deep sense of sorrow and grief over barbaric and dastardly attack on APS Peshawar.

Moved by the Leader of the House Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, the resolution expressed deep sense of appreciation and support for the operation launched by the armed forces against terrorism. It said the military operation in the form of Zarb-e-Azb resulted in elimination of large number of terrorists and their hideouts.

The House expressed great satisfaction and pride on the national unity demonstrated after the horrific tragedy. It recommended to the government to declare 16th of December as Pakistan’s Children Day and that prayers be offered on that day every year in memory of martyrs and for security and prosperity of Pakistan.

The senators representing different political parties expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and lauded resolve of the nation to fight out extremism and terrorism and described martyred students and teachers as heroes as their sacrifice had united the nation and strengthened its resolve to adopt zero tolerance policy towards terrorism.

The members appreciated the achievements of Zarb-e-Azb and NAP against terrorism and said the backbone of terrorists had been broken.

The members wanted more action to curb hate speeches, sectarianism and glorification of terrorism and crime.

Those who spoke included Ilyas Bilour, Abdul Qayyum, Tahir Mashhadi, Usman Kakar, Noman Wazir, Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Hamdullah, Ch. Tanvir Khan, Azam Khan Swati, Dr. Ghous Muhammad Niazi, Nehal Hashmi, Mir Kabir Ahmad, Sitara Ayaz and others.