Relatives holding pictures of their loved ones killed in a Taliban assault on an army school here on Wednesday took out a march in the city as Pakistan marked the first anniversary of the deadliest terror attack in the country amid tight security.
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On 16 December 2014, seven gunmen affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban attacked on the Army Public School in Peshawar killing at least 148.
Various ceremonies, functions and debate contests were held in different parts of Hyderabad to pay tribute to martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar.
They said it was the need of the hour to rise above political affiliations and personal interests and struggle jointly to root out the terrorism.
News anchors on Geo TV, the country’s leading private broadcaster, were also clad in APS uniforms on Wednesday, with the move enraging many social media users who termed it “insensitive”.
In another display of solidarity with the victims of the Peshawar school attack, vehicular traffic remained halted for two minutes beginning 10 a.m.in Lahore, and one-minute silence was observed to mark the tragic incident.
The house also through the resolution recommended the government to declare December 16 as Pakistan Children’s Day and prayers be offered on that day in memory of the martyrs and for the security and prosperity of Pakistan. She said that operation Zarb-e-Azab and the National Action Plan are being forwarded successfully against terrorism.
“The supreme sacrifices rendered by the students of APS strengthened our national resolve and determination that we can not be deterred by such cowardly acts of terrorism and shall defeat the forces of extremism and illiteracy with full force no matter what the cost”, he said.
Earlier, General Raheel welcomed parents of the victims at the gate of Army Public School in Peshawar.
The prime minister vowed revenge at a ceremony attended by thousands.
Ayesha Syed of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said the APS tragedy also coincided with the “Fall of Dhaka” in 1971 when Pakistan was dismembered.
In honor of the students, the Prime Minter has approved to rename 122 schools and colleges in the capital of Islamabad after the students of the school. Hundreds of families gathered at a memorial held at the Army Public School to remember the young victims. The attackers, armed with automatic weapons, proceeded to an auditorium where students were receiving First aid training and opened fire on the assembled children and staff.
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Pakistan Army seeks to send the message that guns and bullets alone will not silence terror.
