Daily Times

LAHORE: The tragic incident of December 16, 2014, was remembered at several conferences, rallies and candle lit vigils held in the city on Saturday.

Concerned citizens got together at these events to renew their pledge to serve justice to the families who had lost their children in the terrorist attack. They demanded that the National Action Plan to counter religious intolerance, violent extremism and terrorism must be implemented in its letter and spirit.

The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) organised a candle lit vigil at the main campus. Speaking at the occasion, VC Fazal Ahmad Khalid said that the day should teach us to unite and taken stock of our social responsibilities. “Our youngsters do not fear anyone. We will fight terrorism until our last breathe,” he said.

Peoples Students Federation also held a candle lit vigil. The event at the Liberty Roundabout was attended by students from different universities and colleges.

Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that in a statement that the nation needed to unite against terrorism. “That will be the best tribute to the memory of martyred children. “Teachers as well as the students of APS Peshawar 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,” he said.

Rwadari Tehreek organised a peace rally to mark the day. People from different walks of life participated in the rally, expressing solidarity with the families of the innocent children and teachers who lost their lives in the terrorist attack.

The rally participants carried anti-extremism and anti- terrorism banners and placards. They chanted slogans and demanded the implementation of the National Action Plan in letter and spirit. They unanimously demanded that December 16th should be officially recognised as a ‘National Day Against Extremism and Terrorism’ in solidarity with all the victims of terrorism and also as a sign of commitment against religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism. The participants also suggested that 2018 should be declared as a Year for Rwadari (religious tolerance and respect of religious diversity) and special programmes should be announced by the federal and provincial governments in this regard.

Prominent social, religious and political personalities participated in the rally, including Rwadari Tehreek president Abdullah Malik, Pakistam Muslim League-Q leader Amna Ulfat, PPP human rights wing leader Naseer Ahmed. Hindu community was represented by Pandit Bhaghat Lal Kokhar.

Rwadari Tehreek chairman Samson Salamat said that even after three year the whole nation was still in a state of shock.

He said Rwadari Tehreek demanded that stern action should be taken against all those involved in terrorist and militant activities, wherever they exist without any recognition of good or bad Taliban. “The hideouts and training centres of these militant outfits should be targeted and the access of the militant outfits to the educational institutions should be checked and banned,” he said.

Malik said that the financing of the terrorist groups should be checked strictly and stopped. “All those supporting militants and terrorists openly or secretly should be held accountable. A comprehensive border security plan is urgently required to control foreign terrorists from entering Pakistani territory,” he said.

A ceremony was also held at the Government Maqbool-e-Aam High School, GOR-I, Lahore which was attended by Schools Department Secretary Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik and Headmaster Ghulam Mustafa.

During the ceremony, special prayers were offered for the APS Peshawar martyrs. In his address, Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik paid rich tributes to the parents and family members of APS martyrs and said that education was the biggest weapon to eradicate ignorance, fanaticism and terrorism from the country.

Published in Daily Times, December 17^th 2017.