ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain Saturday said the nation would always remember the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar tragedy as they had united the nation with their sacrifices.
On the third anniversary of APS tragedy, the president prayed for the martyrs of APS and said the whole nation recognized the sacrifices of Pakistan Army and other security forces in their successes against terrorism.
The president said the APS incident was not only a national tragedy but it was a day for the nation to reiterate the strong resolve against extremism and terrorism.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi meanwhile urged the nation to make a pledge to build a democratic society with zero tolerance for violence and extremism in name of religion, sect, ethnicity or race.
In his message to the nation on the anniversary of the tragedy of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar observed on Saturday, the prime minister said the day would be remembered as black day in country’s history when barbaric elements had targeted the innocent children of the APS.
He said the children who had gone to school for study, returned either in coffins or severely injured. He said the Pakistani nation had rendered unprecedented sacrifices in war against terrorism, more than any other nation in the world.
The prime minister viewed that the APS tragedy had led to the historic national unity and promoted the nation to make a firm resolve for unanimously launching a decisive action against terrorists.
He said the valiant security forces of Pakistan defeated the terrorists under the national action plan and broke their back consequent to their tireless efforts.
The blood of the innocent people has come to fruition making the Pakistani nation the only nation across the world that had defeated the terrorists.
Prime Minister Abbasi said the memory of the APS victims would continue disturbing the nation. This day would keep recalling us as how much innocent souls we had sacrificed to purge our homeland of terrorists.
He said December 16 was the day to pay tribute to those innocent people and sympathize with their grieved parents and the nation would keep their immortal sacrifice alive forever.
He said it was also the day to renew our national resolve against terrorism and keep all of the extremists from our ranks. He said whole of the Pakistani nation pays tribute to its innocent martyrs, Pakistan Army, police and security forces and make a pledge to take this struggle to its logical end.
The people from cross sections of the society Saturday paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar on their third death anniversary being observed with immense respect and admiration.
The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for eternal peace of around 152 people including 132 schoolchildren who were martyred in a deadly terrorists attack in Army Public School Peshawar three years ago on December 16, 2014.
Politicians, civil society members, academicians, parents, local government representatives and students among people of every walk of life presented tributes to the martyrs of APS and held their sacrifices in high esteem.
Member National Assembly Sardar Aurangzaib Nalota told APP that APS tragedy had united the nation in the fight against terrorism and militancy and paved the way for establishment of durable peace in the country. “The schoolchildren and other staff, who were martyred in the deadly terrorist attack on APS were our sons and brothers and the whole nation stood with them,” he said.
Senior lawyer Kifayatullah Khan said APS incident would always give us courage, strength and a feeling of a moral win over the biggest enemies of Islam and Pakistan.
Nazim Bhadar Khan paid glowing tributes to APS martyrs, saying it was their sacrifices that brought peace to the country. “The best tribute to APS martyrs on this day is to continue untiring efforts against terrorism and promote education in the country,” he remarked.
Published in Daily Times, December 17th 2017.