ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari censured the government for what he declared as its failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, adding that the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack is “still a bleeding wound”.
On December 16, six terrorists affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked the school in Peshawar. 147 people, including 132 children, were killed in the attack.
“The National Action Plan was a promise to punish terrorists. Unfortunately, the promise to the nation has not been fulfilled, ” he said in a message on the seventh anniversary of the attack.
This comes as the government is holding negotiations with the TTP, resulting in widespread criticism from the opposition parties.
Zardari said that until criminals are apprehended, the country will continue to owe the “innocent martyrs.” The former president said the tragedy is “still a bleeding wound.”
According to him, if given a chance, these terrorists would be “apprehended” and “sentenced to death”.
The TTP, which is engaged in talks with the Imran Khan government, is yet to show any remorse for the school massacre.
Last week, TTP announced it would not extend the month-long ceasefire as it accused Islamabad of failing to fulfil its obligations under the agreement.
