Daily Times

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Saturday paid tribute to the sacrifices of Shuhada of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar and said that such precedents of sacrifices were rare in human history.

In a message on the 9th anniversary of APS tragedy, he said that on that tragic day, terrorists had launched a cowardly attack on APS leading to a tragic incident which had grieved the entire world.

The unfortunate incident had strengthened the nation’s resolve against terrorism, the prime minister said, giving a clear message to terrorists and enemies of peace that the Pakistani nation was united.

Expressing his grief, the prime minister said that recollection of the incident brought tears to his eyes.

Nine years back, the enemy had tried vainly to deter the resolve of the nation in the fight against terrorism by attacking their flowers like children, PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying.

The caretaker prime minister further said that he along with the entire nation still remembered the great sacrifices of the students and paid tribute to them.

Principal APS Shaheed Tahira Qazi and other teachers stood against terrorists like a formidable wall and laid down their lives while saving the students, he added.

The caretaker prime minister said that the Pakistani nation had won the fight against terrorism and had foiled all the enemies’ nefarious designs of sowing anarchy and disorder.

The timid terrorists could not succeed in their designs as the nation had fearless people like Shaheed Tahira Qazi and Shaheed Aitzaz Ahsan in its ranks who were ready to sacrifice their lives for the protection of their people, he added.

He said though the entire nation was grieving over the tragic incident of APS but it had made it stronger against the specter of terrorism.

The prime minister said that the Pakistani nation was standing shoulder to shoulder with its security forces to send all terrorists to hell who had been trying to disrupt peace of the country.

He said the nation also paid tribute to the personnel of police force, rangers, army and other law enforcement agencies for eliminating the terrorists and their hideouts one by one after the occurrence of the APS tragedy.

Zardari

Former President and President of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday paid a glowing tribute to the innocent martyrs of the APS tragedy that took place nine years ago on December 16.

He said, “The blood of these innocent martyrs will not be allowed to go in vain and the war against terrorism will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.”

In his message on the anniversary of the APS tragedy, Asif Ali Zardari said, “APS tragedy can never be forgotten.”

He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had clearly identified these terrorists in her lifetime and had declared them the enemies of the country and peace.

He said that the Swat operation was an example of how these terrorists could be eliminated. He said that the brave officers and soldiers of our Army and Police sacrificed their lives for the peace and security of the country.

“There will be justice with the blood of these martyrs” he added.

Solangi

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi Saturday said that the day of December 16 would always be remembered for the great sacrifices of the martyrs of Army Public School.

In a message on the 9th anniversary of APS martyrs, he said, “Nine years have passed since the tragedy of APS, but the grief of those who lost their lives was still fresh today.”

The minister said that cowardly miscreants attacked the future of the nation, the young children and martyred them.

Murtaza Solangi said adding no one could hold back their tears remembering that tragic day. Paying tributes to the martyrs of APS tragedy, he said they united the nation against terrorism.

After this incident, he said all the political parties and organizations united against terrorism, a twenty-point national action plan was adopted and the terrorists were defeated.

Unfortunately, without taking the opinion of parliament and public institutions, a government of the recent past allowed the terrorists to return, due to which the nation facing a new wave of terrorism today.

“Terrorism has never ended due to the appeasement of terrorists around the world”, he maintained. The people of Pakistan will defeat this new wave of terrorism with the strength of their state institutions and this was the message of today.

“Our resolve is firm and our passion is true, our war against terrorism will continue”, Murtaza Solangi remarked.

Solangi stated that Pakistan had come a long way to defeat terrorism as all state institutions, including civil and military leadership, were on the same page to protect homeland and national security.

“Pakistan is moving towards lasting peace and development,” he added.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls of the martyrs of Army Public School in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the tragic loss with fortitude.

The minister also paid tributes to the martyrs of Pakistan Armed forces who sacrificed their lives for peace in the country.

CPWB

A commemorative ceremony was held at Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) here on Saturday to pay tribute to the schoolchildren and staff, martyred in the terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar in 2014.

The CPWB teachers, students and staff participated in the event in a large number and lit candles in memory of the martyrs. Tribute to the sacrifices of Shuhada of APS was paid while prayers were offered for development of the country and eliminating menace of terrorism from the country.

Meanwhile, CPWB Chairperson Sarah Ahmad, in a statement, said that the APS tragedy would always be remembered as such precedents of sacrifices were rare in human history.

The chairperson prayed for the martyrs, saying the whole nation recognised the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army and other security forces in their successes against terrorism and the innocent martyrs would always remain in the hearts of the nation.