APS martyrs paid tribute

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs (HR&MA) Ijaz Alam Augustine has said that it has been five years since the unforgettable Army Public School (APS) tragedy took place on December 16, 2014, when more than 140 people were martyred by militants, including 122 schoolchildren.

In a statement issued here Sunday, he paid tribute to the APS martyrs. He said it was high time we stand up as a nation to ensure safety of our children. He said that a clear message to the enemies of peace could be delivered through unity and peace among all stakeholders.

The minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, all available resources were being utilised to ensure human rights, especially protection of children throughout the country.

The minister said it was a collective responsibility to protect children and the Punjab government had taken many initiatives to eliminate child labour across the province. It was also working on more effective legislation regarding rights of women, especially girls, he added.

Jimmy Engineer: Prominent artist, social crusader and peace activist Jimmy Engineer has said that the innocent students of the Army Public School, Peshawar, on becoming victim of most brutal and merciless terrorist act had given the clarion call of “Rise and Unite Pakistan” with their blood.

Paying rich tributes to the young students, he said a befitting memorial should be constructed, if not already done, for the innocent souls who had by laying down their lives created unity among the political leadership as well as the entire nation from Karachi to Khyber which none else, including the politicians, had done though direly needed for boldly, squarely and courageously facing the internal and external challenges faced by the nation and the country for years together.

In a statement issued on the eve of anniversary of the Army Public School Peshawar tragedy, Jimmy Engineer said that the large number of young students who were targeted by the devil butcher terrorists would always be remembered for their great sacrifices as a result of which not only the political leaders but also the people all over the country had risen and united as one and condemned the barbaric act of terrorism and pledged along with the Armed Forces of Pakistan to continue fighting militancy, extremism and terrorism in all their manifestations together until they are completely eliminated from sacred soil of Pakistan.