Tariq Saeed
Peshawar
As the nation Monday celebrated fifth anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar carnage , the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff of the Army staff pledged that militant mindset to take over the country would never be allowed as the incident will never be forgotten.
Glowing tributes were paid to the martyrs and ghazis of Army Public School and College at APS Warsak Road in Peshawar, that was bathed in blood five years back, and other parts of the country as the nation remembered the heroes and mourned the deadliest ever terrorist attack amid resolve to defeat the terrorism.
On this day, exactly five years back the heartless terrorists, it may be recalled, had on December 16 ,2014 carried out one of the most horrific attacks in the history of Pakistan and massacred 150 people including 135 innocent school children in Army Public School Peshawar sending a wave of shock and resentment not only in Pakistan but the entire world as the incident drew condemnation worldwide.
In fact the incident had brought the government and political parties on the same page as they expressed a renewed resolve to fight terrorism in the country during All Parties Conference convened in Peshawar, the very next day of the APS tragedy and a comprehensive National Action Plan (NAP) was announced to effectively deal with the terrorism.
Special ceremonies were held in Peshawar and other parts of the country to pay tribute to the martyrs and Ghazis of Army Public school and college (APSAC) Warsak road and express complete solidarity with their loved ones, on Monday. Army, Civil high ups as well as the families of the martyrs and people from various walks of society laid floral wreath at the martyrs’ monument and offered Fateha for the departed souls. Quran Khawani were held by the civil society and at educational institutions for the Shaheeds of the APS massacre.
Likewise ceremonies were held in different parts of the countries especially at various schools where the participants paid tributes to the APS martyrs and expressed resolve to defeat terrorism.
While top political and military leadership of the country paid tribute to the martyrs and Ghazis of the APS deadly attack and expressed resolve to come hard on the terrorism, in his message on the occasion Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed that he will not allow the militant mindset to take over the country. In his message, PM Imran pledged that the militants will not be allowed to hold the nation hostage to its “bigoted vision”.
The premier said the blood of the innocent united the entire nation against all forms of extremism, terrorism, violence and hatred. The PM also lauded the sacrifices of the armed forces, police and law enforcing agencies in the fight against terrorism.
He said the Pakistan Army undertook a decisive action against terrorists with the support of the nation and added the price the country paid in the war against terrorism couldn’t be estimated.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar and salute to their brave parents. In his message released by DG Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) the Army Chief said the horrific carnage of Army Public School that claimed lives of over 140 people including students will never be forgotten.
General Bajwa said that five of the involved terrorists have been hanged through military courts. “We have come a long way in failing terrorism as a nation.
