PESHAWAR: The nation is observing the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar today.
The entire political and military leadership including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif are attending the main function at the APS to pay homage to the martyrs and the injured children, staff members and their families.
As many as 147 people, including 122 schoolchildren, were mercilessly killed on December 16, 2014 in the most horrible act of terror. The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the brazen attack. Those martyred, particularly the schoolchildren, have been hailed as national heroes and credited with forging unity in the country for fighting the war against terrorism.
According to the regional in-charge of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the main function to mark the first anniversary of the APS tragedy would be held at the campus of the school where medals and certificates would be awarded to the parents of the martyrs and the survivors. He said that only the state media like the Pakistan Television would be allowed to cover the main function.
Another function would be held at the Archives Library, where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan would lay the foundation-stone of the monument for the APS martyrs. On the occasion, the Archives Library would be renamed as Shuhada-e-Army Public School Library.
Quran Khwani and condolence references for the APS martyrs are being arranged at almost all the educational institutions and other offices in the provincial capital. At the Awami National Party (ANP) headquarters, Bacha Khan Markaz, special prayers have been arranged for the APS martyrs.
Adviser to Chief Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani told a press conference that the provincial government had announced public holiday in Peshawar district today. He said Imran Khan, Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and other ministers would also attend the main function. Mushtaq Ghani claimed that the provincial government had never abandoned the families of the martyrs and wounded students of the APS. He said that 122 government schools in the province were named after the martyrs and 142 members of the martyrs’ families were sent to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
The adviser said foreign tours to four countries were also arranged for the surviving students of the APS so that they could forget the gory incident. He added that the provincial government also offered jobs to 21 family members of the martyrs. He said eight were provided jobs while the rest didn’t consider the offer. He said the KP government was also taking steps for provision of free education to other children of the martyrs’ families.
Sources told The News that apart from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and ambassadors of several countries are also expected to attend the ceremony at the APS. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah reached Peshawar Tuesday to attend the function.
Strict security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful observance of the anniversary. Some 2,000 policemen have been deployed in the city for ensuring security.The army personnel have already taken control of the APS and all the roads leading to it.Meanwhile, a condolence reference was held at the District Council Peshawar on Tuesday.
District Nazim Muhammad Asim Khan and other councillors paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of APS. The House also adopted a unanimous resolution in support of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan.
Meanwhile, rallies and demonstrations were held in different parts of the country to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the martyrs of the APS Peshawar and express solidarity with them. Rallies were taken out from Peshawar, many other cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and other small and big cities. Different functions were also held to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the APS martyrs.
