Renewed calls to crush terrorism as nation pays tribute to APS martyrs

The 10th anniversary of the tragic terror attack at Army Public School Peshawar was observed on Monday to pay tribute to the martyrs amid calls for continuing the war against terrorism till complete elimination of this menace from Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Special prayers and Quran Khwani were held for the martyred students and teachers of Army Public School.

On 16th of December 2014, six terrorists stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar and martyred 147 innocent students and teachers.

President asks nation to united against terrorism

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 a 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.

On this day, he said the terrorists mercilessly killed our citizens including our children, adding the terrorists showed their animosity towards 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 agenda of the terrorists was to create chaos and anarchy in the country. The day of December 16 left unerasable 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, adding 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 a witness that Pakistani nation did not lose courage in the face of tragedies, he stressed. He 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 the citizens.”

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 concluded.

Nation standing firm against terrorism: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the whole nation was standing against coward terrorists as a wall of fortified steel and will remain standing and would not forget the tragedy of attack on Army Public School, Peshawar on December 16, 2014.
In his message, the prime minister 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 lives of 144 innocent children, he recalled.
He 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 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.
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.
He said the whole nation including him saluted the bravery of the teachers and children and pay 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. Pakistan Paindabad,” he concluded.

Interior Minister pays rich tribute to APS martyrs

Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Monday reiterated the resolve that the war against terrorism would continue.

In his message on the occasion of 10th anniversary of a terrorist attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS) in which close to 150 students and children had lost their lives, he said that the state had tightened the noose around terrorists. “The incident led to the development of a consensus among different ethnic and sectarian groups in the country that terrorism was a scourge. It gathered the entire nation on one platform.” 

Naqvi further said that on that day, innocent people were gunned down. “The students and teachers laid down their lives to lay the foundation of a peaceful Pakistan.”

The martyrs of APS, he went on to say, lived in the hearts and minds of the Pakistanis and they would never forget them. 

“On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the incident, the nation pays rich tributes to the sacrifice given by the martyrs.”

APS tragedy was a direct attack on Pakistan, says Maryam

CM Maryam pays tributes to martyrs of Army Public School

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday paid glowing tributes to martyrs of Army Public School (APS).

In her message, CM Maryam Nawaz said that despite passage of ten years the tragic incident is still alive in our hearts. She said that on the morning of December 16, 2014, hardened terrorists attacked Army Public School and brutally killed 147 innocent students and their teachers.

She said that these students wanted to serve Pakistan after completing their education in Army Public School but unfortunately become victims to brutality.

Maryam said December 16, 2014 attack was not on Army Public School but actually it was direct attack on Pakistan and its bright future and on our educational system.

She said that sacrifices rendered by innocent students of Army Public School taught us lesson to eradicate terrorism from its grass routes level in forms from our society.

She said that APS martyrs of APS are our national heroes and we will not forget their sacrifices.

She lauded encouragement shown by parents of martyred students. She said that 147 innocent students dream was to see Pakistan as developed state and we will turn their dream into reality and will eliminate terrorism from our country.

Reporter Awais Kiyani