Fourth anniversary of APS attack observed
A ceremony to pay tribute to the martyrs and ghazis of APS attack was held in Peshawar
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – The fourth anniversary of a deadly school attack Army Public School (APS) Peshawar that claimed the lives of over 140 people, mostly schoolchildren, was being observed across the country on Sunday.
A ceremony to pay tribute to the martyrs and ghazis of Army Public School and College was held at Warsak Road in Peshawar.
The ceremony started with a special prayer for Shaheeds, followed by national anthem.
To observe the fourth anniversary, APS Peshawar had organized a special function to pay accolades to all the victims who lost their lives, while numerous other events were also held to commemorate the martyred victims.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman laid a floral wreath at the martyrs monument and offered fateha for the departed souls. Later, he joined the families of Shuhada, large gathering of locals and school children for Quran Khawani within school premises.
On the occasion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan paid tribute to the lost lives saying their sacrifices will always be remembered.
He further stated that the tragedy exposed the vicious mindset of the terrorists targeting innocent children at a place of learning and showed how a hatred towards humanity, education and knowledge is manifest in their schemes.
Meanwhile, another function was held to pay homage to the martyrs of APS at APS (Archive) Library Peshawar beside a ‘Taleemi dharna’ was staged in front of Peshawar Press Club.
People from different walk of live and civil society members attended by paying rich tribute to martyrs and expressed their sympathies with the bereaved families of APS martyrs.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants had stormed the school on December16, 2014, killing at least 144 people most of whom were children.
The deadliest attack in Pakistan’s history, the carnage prompted the government to declare an all-out war against terrorist outfits. In the wake of the attack, military courts were set up for trying terrorists under amendments made to the Constitution and the Army Act.
The mastermind of the APS massacre, Umar Mansour, alias Khalifa Mansour, alias Umar Naray, was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.
Four years on — despite the counter-terrorism National Action Plan (NAP) that was chalked out days after the APS massacre and other security strategies - educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa remain a relatively easy target for militants.
The massacre changed the perception of Pakistan against terrorism and people in the country raised voices for a uniformed action against all types of militants.
Following the attack, political parties and security departments formed a National Action Plan to stem extremism and terrorism.
Later, Pakistani Parliament unanimously approved the formation of military courts for speedy trials of the hardcore terrorists.
According to reports, since the school attack, at least 1,584 terrorists were arrested and sent to jail. Apart from it, 167 high profile terrorists with head money were also detained or killed.
