Leadership and members of Rwadari Tehreek and people from different walks of life and faiths gathered on Sunday for a Protest Camp in memory of all those who lost their lives at Army Public School (APS), Peshawar on December 16, 2014 and other victims of terrorism. Activists of Rwadari Tehreek at the Protest Camp expressed solidarity with the families of the innocent children and teachers who sacrificed their lives at APS and in other incidents of terrorism. They were carrying anti-extremism and anti-terrorism banners and placards, chanted slogans and demanded the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) in letter and spirit. They unanimously demanded to declare December 16 the National Day Against Extremism & Terrorism in solidarity with all the victims of terrorism and also as a sign of commitment against religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism and also suggested that 2019 should be declared as a Year for Rwadari and a special programme should be announced by the federal and provincial governments in this regard. Prominent social, religious and political personalities were present at the protest camp including Rwadari Tehreek Chairman Samson Salamat, Saeeda Diep, Labour Qaumi Movement Chairman Baba Latif Ansari, Rwadari Tehreek CEC Members Riffat Saud and Wajahat Batool, Lahore Organiser Committee member Vickram Manzoor, Rwadari Tehreek Finance Secretary Dr Adoo Ram, Hindu community leader Pandit Bhaghat Lal Kokhar, Rwadari Tehreek Information Secretary Naveed Raphael, Rukhsana Liaquat, Rwadari Tehreek Office Bearer Shahid Rafique, Pakistan People’s Party representative Bushra Malik and many other honourable members of Rwadari Tehreek. Samson Salamat while addressing the protesters said, “Our heart still bleeds when we recall the massacre at APS. However, it is very disturbing that none of the responsible of the massacre has been taken to task. Therefore, we demand to constitute an independent judicial commission consisting of higher judiciary judges to investigate the APS carnage. This is very sad to note that trial has not begun against former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan who is already in custody and had openly confessed APS attack and other terrorist activities. NAP which was made after the APS lacks implementation. Therefore, in order to make sure that the society is free of intolerance, violent extremism and terrorism, the government needs to be more serious and practical to ensure the effective implementation of the NAP. Especially, the ban on hate speech should be implemented in letter and spirit and all those found in spreading hate speech through print or electronic media or through loud speakers should be apprehended indiscriminately and there should be speedy trial of all those who are apprehended on charges of terrorism including former TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, who is already in custody,” Salamat added. He further said that “we demand stern action against terrorists and militant outfits wherever they exist without any recognition of good or bad. The terrorists do not deserve any softness as they are killers of thousands of innocent citizens and should be brought before justice indiscriminately. The hideouts and training centres of militant outfits should be targeted where they are training youth for terrorist acts and access of the militant outfits to the educational institutions should be checked and banned. The financing of the terrorist groups should be checked strictly and stopped. And all those individuals or groups who are supporting the militants and terrorists openly or secretly should be held accountable. Moreover a very comprehensive border security plans are urgently required to control foreign terrorists for entering Pakistan and using our soil for terrorist activities”. All the participants of the Protest Camp, particularly the leadership and the members of the Rwadari Tehreek pledged to continue their struggle against religious extremism, religious intolerance and terrorism to make Pakistan a peaceful place for all the citizens without any discrimination. Published in Daily Times, December 17th2018.