Gallantry awards recommended for APS martyrs

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday forwarded a recommendation summary to President Mamnoon Hussain for awarding posthumous gallantry awards for to the martyrs of Army Public School to recognise their services for the country.

According to a spokesman of PM House, the prime minister has recommended to confer “Sitara-e-Shujaat” (star of bravery) and “Tamgha-e-Shujaat” (medal of valour) for 122 martyred students and 20 members of academic staff of the school in Peshawar.

At least 146 people including 134 students were killed when Pakistani Taliban militants attacked the APS on December 16 last year.

The top civil and military leadership of the country intensified their efforts to eradicate militancy and extremism form the country following the brazen attack on children.

The government also formulated an emergency National Action Plan (NAP) including formation of military courts to hear terrorism related cases following the militant attack.

The PM House spokesman further said that the decision was taken to pay homage to the courage of the martyrs, who united the whole nation against the scourge of terrorism and extremism.