- APS tragedy is unforgettable despite lapse of 10 years: PM Shehbaz
- December 16 reminds nation to unite against terrorism: President Zardari
ISLAMABAD: 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 a message on the 10th anniversary of tragedy of Army Public School, he said today ten 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 victims 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.
December 16 reminds nation to unite against terrorism: President Zardari
Meanwhile, 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 tenth 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 un-erasable imprints on the collective memory of the nation, he continued.
President 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.
