APS tragedy and Sharif’s commitment to education
SEVEN years have passed since the tragedy of APS Peshawar but the parents of these innocent children are still facing hearings in the Supreme Court for justice.No relief could have been provided to the affected families so far.
Even at the last hearing, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had to summon Prime Minister Imran Khan and issued directives, but no progress has been seen.
In contrast, the then Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif formulated the National Action Plan immediately after the incident but invisible forces did not give him the opportunity to identify the culprits and give them exemplary punishment.
It would have provided relief to the victims and they would not have needed courts and sit-ins today.
On 16 December 2015, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the occasion of the first anniversary of Martyr’s Day of APS Peshawar expressed his heartfelt condolences to the parents, survivors and fellow students and teachers of the martyred children.
He termed this day as National Commitment of Education and declared it to be celebrated every year conveying the message to the nation that they are determined to give a peaceful and brighter Pakistan to the new generation.
The country where the flowers of peace, love and brotherhood bloom and no one could extinguish the candle of knowledge and spread darkness in the country.
Each sentence of Sharif’s speech was an expression of devotion to the martyrs and reiteration of the determination that the noble cause for which innocent children have rendered the great sacrifice will always be remembered and the enemies of knowledge will be wiped off the face of the earth.
The huge sacrifice of these children have infused the spirit of unity and solidarity within the nation.
The former premier devised a strategy to provide all required resources to grant APS Peshawar the status of a university.
Pursuing his strategy to combat and curb extremist through education, he had initiated a very comprehensive Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Program (PMER), granted one billion rupees for the historical institution of Islamia College University Peshawar, which was declared by Quaid-i-Azam as his own institution, announced a lucrative package for federal educational institutions, the issuance of special directives to take all possible measures to promote education in each province, including fast track recruitment of well qualified teachers on all the vacant positions, the construction of school buildings, installation of water filtration plants, establishment of academic authorities and advisory councils, equipping computer laboratories with the latest softwares and technologies, provision of books in the libraries and transport facility for the students, installation of biometric system to ensure punctuality of the teachers and provision of school bags, uniforms and other essential amenities to the students are the measure that speak volumes of Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to education.
Following the vision of her father, her daughter Maryam Nawaz, had also played her role promoting Sharif’s vision.
She was equally eager to bring about a soft revolution in the field of education and health and strive to translate Iqbal’s and Jinnah’s vision into a living reality.
Introducing Prime Minister’s Youth Program, the Youth Business Loan Program, Scholarships, and many such initiatives are in sync with the vision to promote education in the country.
Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom also commended Maryam Nawaz for her volunteer role in providing educational services to children and assured her of her full support.
While this honour was a source of appreciation for her, it was also a source of pride for Pakistan.
During his tenure, Nawaz Sharif had entrusted the responsibility of CAD (Capital Administration and Development Division) Ministry to Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, an MNA from Islamabad and a professional and dynamic figure, so that he could exploit his professional expertise in better formulation of these projects at national level.
Nawaz Sharif’s national commitment to education was not just a slogan but a passion signifying a new independent, prosperous and sovereign Pakistan.
Thousands of children, youth, elders, women and people of all schools of thought have sacrificed for the cause of peace and harmony and brighter future of Pakistan.
These sacrifices proved pivotal for the security and stability of Pakistan for which Parliament, Judiciary, Administration, Civil Society, Armed Forces and Police Service have been working hard.
The moment of truth now seems round the corner when the slogan of “Respect the Vote” will be fulfilled and Sharif-led regime will again be at the helm.
Pakistan’s economy and democracy will be restored and the national economy will be free from the clutches of IMF and the World Bank.
The economic goals will be achieved under the leadership of eminent economist Senator Ishaq Dar who in the light of the vision of Nawaz Sharif has significantly improved and efficiently managed the state of country’s economy in the past.
The rule of law will prevail, independent judiciary will be emerged where justice will not just be professed but it will be done.
The families affected by the Peshawar tragedy will also have access to justice.
—The writer is a member Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council.
