Families relive trauma as APS attack anniversary nears

Security enhanced in Peshawar to avoid any sabotage bid

PESHAWAR: The families of those martyred and wounded are struggling to come out of the shock of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School a year after the gruesome incident. The first anniversary of the terrorist attack will be observed on December 16.

Security in the provincial metropolis has been enhanced to avert any sabotage bid on the occasion of the first anniversary of the attack, arguably rated as the worst terrorist incident in the history of the country.

“Large-scale operations have been underway since December 1. Thousands of houses in the vicinity have been searched and several suspects rounded up,” Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mubarik Zeb told The News. He added that the security of sensitive buildings and establishments had been increased.

“We are in coordination with the agencies and the army. Elaborate security arrangements are planned for December 16 and will be put in place in advance,” Mubarik Zeb said.

Search and strike operations will continue till December 16 and afterwards. “At a number of sensitive establishments, we have conducted mock exercises with the Elite Force and army,” the CCPO said.

As many as 153 people, according to the Shuhada Forum run by the martyred students’ parents, were killed and several injured when attackers armed with automatic weapons, grenades and other explosives stormed the APS on December 16, 2014. They continued killing children and teachers in the auditorium, classes, corridors and laboratories till late afternoon.

The Shuhada Forum said those martyred in the attack included 131 children and 22 teachers and other staff members.

Many parents, siblings, family members and friends are yet to come out of the shock of the gory attack. Mothers who had prepared their kids on that day before sending them to school find it hard to control their tears. Many who had witnessed the scenes in the school have developed psychological problems.

“All the parents and families of the martyred students are still in pain. This pain and loss is so huge that it cannot be measured,” Tufail Khattak, father of martyred student Sher Shah Shaheed, told The News. However, he was satisfied that the sacrifices of their kids have helped restore peace in the country.

The statistics of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police show that terrorist incidents in the province have come down by 56 percent and casualties by 58 percent due to the actions launched after the APS attack. The overall law and order situation has also improved with 52 percent decrease in cases of extortion and murder. Many events have been planned for the first anniversary of the APS attack. It is expected to be attended by the top government and military officials. Security all over KP, particularly in Peshawar, has been upgraded already.

Search and strike operations are being carried out in Peshawar Saddar and in the vicinity for the last many days and a number of suspects have been apprehended. Snap checking by the police and army has been increased in the Cantonment and surrounding areas.

Officials of the Rescue 1122, who were among those who had arrived first at the APS after the attack, recalled the tragic scenes that they saw on that fateful day.

“Many of our personnel were rushing the bodies and the wounded to hospitals with tears rolling down their cheeks. Nobody had seen such scenes in their lives,” recalled Asad Ali Khan, director general of the Rescue 1122. He added that the Rescue 1122 responded immediately after receiving the call from inside the Army Public School at the time of the attack. The wounded and the bodies were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital and the Lady Reading Hospital amid the crossfire and blasts.

Bilal Faizi, a rescue worker, said nobody else was allowed to enter the school and the Rescue 1122 personnel transported all the victims to the hospitals without worrying about the risk to their lives. “We called all the ambulances and the rescue personnel to take part in the operation. This is what we have been doing throughout the troubled time in order to save precious lives,” Bilal Faizi added. 

Some families cannot help remember their loved ones on every festive occasion.“One of my cousins had lost her son in the attack. Since that day she has preserved everything that the child had left in his room on December 16 last year. She visits the room whenever she misses her kid and cries inside his room,” said Qaisar Khan.

The same is the story of many parents. The father of one of the victims takes a jug of water whenever he visits the grave of his son as the boy had been asking for water the last time he talked to his father on phone after sustaining critical bullet injuries.