LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that savage killers made the innocent students of Army Public School Peshawar a victim of their worst ever barbarianism on December 16, 2014 and due to the blood of these innocent children, the whole nation stood up united in the war against terrorism and wonderful successes were achieved due to the consensus decisions in this war. As a result, the peace has been restored in the motherland today. In his message issued on the eve of the 3rd anniversary of martyrs of Army Public School Peshawar, the Chief Minister said that teachers as well as the students of APS Peshawar have had rendered a great sacrifice of their lives for the achievement of a great purpose and written a new history of bravery and valour. The martyred teachers and the children are the heroes of the whole nation and they will remain so forever. The nation is still saddened over the martyrdom of innocent children in APS tragedy and the great sacrifice of the APS martyrs will never be forgotten by the nation. The Chief Minister said the nation got peace due to the blood shed by the martyrs and the APS children have written the history with their blood for a secure and peaceful Pakistan. He vowed that the blood debt of the martyred children will be paid by completely eradicating the country from the terrorists. He expressed the satisfaction that after Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the backbone of the terrorists has been broken through the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. We will not sit idle till nipping the menace of terrorism from the bud, he added. He said that establishment of a Pakistani society based on the societal norms of tolerance and broadmindedness is our mission and added that this goal will be achieved. The whole nation is paying rich tributes to the immortal sacrifices of APS Peshawar’s martyrs and all our sympathies are with the families of the martyrs, concluded the Chief Minister. Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that verdict of the Supreme Court has endorsed our stance based on truth and justice. In a statement issued, he said that this judgment is a victory for justice and truth and I bow my head before Almighty Allah in gratitude. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that he is thankful to the Supreme Court whose decision has upheld the truth and justice and it has been transpired that truth always emerged and justice has prevailed. Today is the most important day of my political life and the allegations hurdled on me have proved false and baseless as a result of SCP verdict. The time has come that all the political parties and their workers should set aside the traditional politics of weakening each other and utilize their energies for national development and changing lives of the disfranchised segments of the society, concluded the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed a deep sense of grief over the death of Muhammad Yousaf Tihami, father of Mr. Abid Tihami, a senior journalist, columnist and group editor/advisor correspondents’ network Jang group. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister has extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace. In a separate handout, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has condoled the death of Muhammad Afzal Khan, a senior journalist and former PFUJ Secretary. He has also expressed a deep sense of grief over the passing away of Khalid Farooq, brother of Tahir Farooq, Vice President of CPNE. In his separate condolence messages, he has extended sympathies and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace. Published in Daily Times, December 16th 2017.