ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: On the 10th anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) massacre, Pakistan’s leaders, military and the masses commemorated the sombre day with the resolve to push back the terrorists and the nefarious designs of those with an extremist mindset.
The day was marked by various events remembering the martyrs and the survivors across the country, and calling for continuing the fight against the terrorists both on the ground and in the virtual space.
The day was observed not just with the resolve to quell any terrorist activity but also a reinvigorated and optimistic assessment of the gains made in the fight against terrorism and of a better, prosperous and peaceful future.
Pakistan president calls for global efforts
On the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, Pakistan’s president urged the international community to make collective efforts to eradicate terrorism.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said the day of December 16, 2014, reminded the nation to get united against terrorism and increase their efforts to eliminate this menace.
In his message on the 10th anniversary of the Army Public School Peshawar attack, he said on 16th December 2014 the terrorists attacked the future of our children and nation.
“The international community have to make collective efforts to eradicate terrorism.” — Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.
He reiterated the determination to root out the remains of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan.
“The international community have to make collective efforts to eradicate terrorism,” the president said.
On this day, Zardari said the terrorists mercilessly killed our citizens including our children, adding the terrorists showed their animosity towards the public by attacking teachers and children. Attack on the children was cruel and against humanity, he added.
The president said the tragedy of APS made it clear that the agenda of the terrorists was to create chaos and anarchy in the country.
The day of December 16 left un-erasable imprints on the collective memory of the nation, he continued.
Zardari said that our sympathies were with the heirs of the innocent children. This day reminded of the sacrifices of the nation in the war against terrorism, he remarked.
He said the incidents like APS tragedy exposed the real face of terrorists and Khawarij and the Pakistani nation would not let the terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs.
The APS tragedy united the nation against terrorism. The history was witness that the Pakistani nation did not lose courage in the face of tragedies, he stressed.
The president said the political leadership of Pakistan also sacrificed in the war against terrorism, adding, “Today we pay tribute to the brave soldiers, security organizations and citizens for their sacrifices against terrorism. We will not let go in vain the sacrifices of our children, leaders and citizens.”
Nation “wall of fortified steel”: Pakistan PM
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the whole nation was standing against terrorists as a wall of fortified steel and will remain standing and would not forget the tragedy of the attack on the Army Public School, in Peshawar on December 16, 2014.
In his message anniversary, he said today 10 years had passed after an unforgettable tragedy and loss of lives at Army Public School and “our heart is still in grief and we are shedding tears of blood”.
It was a tragic event which brought grief to our hearts, he remembered.
On December 16, 2014 coward, cruel and barbaric terrorists entered Army Public School and while causing death and destruction took away the lives of 144 innocent children, he recalled.
The Pakistan prime minister said most of the children who fell victim to this barbarity were small children who departed the world leaving people in grief.
Their lives, dreams, hopes and future were taken away from them, he said adding, “We cannot forget the loss of these children despite the passage of all this time.”
The Pakistan prime minister said the small children faced unprecedented barbarism and cruelty and embraced martyrdom.
The pain of the families and parents whose loved ones and children were taken away from them, could not be mitigated, he added.
“Let us reiterate our determination to create a peaceful and secure country where no innocent faces any barbarity and cruelty and no child goes to school in fear and all perpetrators are given exemplary punishment for their crimes.” – Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
The Pakistan prime minister said most of the children who fell victim to this barbarity were small children who departed the world leaving people in grief.
Their lives, dreams, hopes and future were taken away from them, he said adding, “We cannot forget the loss of these children despite the passage of all this time.”
The Pakistan prime minister said the small children faced unprecedented barbarism and cruelty and embraced martyrdom.
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He said the nation should keep in mind that the fitna of Khawarij and other terrorists and anti-state elements had nothing to do with the religion or the social values.
These terrorists targeted innocent Pakistanis to achieve goals at the behest of enemies of the country, he added.
The Pakistan prime minister said the whole nation including him saluted the bravery of the teachers and children and paid tribute to the courage of the security forces who were tackling the anti-state elements with steadfastness and determination.
“Let us reiterate our determination to create a peaceful and secure country where no innocent faces any barbarity and cruelty and no child goes to school in fear and all perpetrators are given exemplary punishment for their crimes.”
Shehbaz Sharif said, “We have to make a collective pledge and we owe it to the martyrs and affectees of this tragedy that their sacrifices will not be in vain.
“We will not forget and we will not forgive,” he concluded.
