Peshawar: The nation
is spotting the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Army Public
School (APS) Peshawar today.
The complete political and military leadership including Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif are appearing
in the main function at the APS to pay respect to the martyrs and the injured
children, staff members and their families.
As many as 147 people, including 122 school children, were cruelly
killed on December 16, 2014 in the most horrible act of terror. The forbidden
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the shameless
attack. Those martyred, particularly the school children, have been greeted as
national heroes and credited with counterfeiting 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 proclaimed 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.
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