PESHAWAR -  The people from cross sections of the society here on Saturday paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of Army Public School, Peshawar on their 3rd death anniversary.

The main ceremony to commemorate the martyrdom of the APS students and teachers was observed at the Army Public School and Colleges (APS) Peshawar.

On the occasion, Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Nazir Ahmad Butt, Inspector General Frontier Corps Maj Gen Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood, Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and other civil military officials participated in the function. 

The parents of the martyred students, teachers and other victim staff were invited to the ceremony. Participants of the ceremony paid rich tributes to the martyrs and prayed for their higher solace in the Hereafter.

On the occasion, Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Nazir Ahmad Butt laid floral wreath on the Yadgar-e-Shuhada (martyred monument) and offered for the martyred.

 Similar functions were also held in Charsadda, Bannu, and Haripur, wherein the deputy commissioners and students of the government and private schools paid tributes to martyred students.

The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for eternal peace of around 152 people, including 132 children who were martyred in a deadly terrorists attack in the Army Public School Peshawar some three years ago on December 16.

Politicians, civil society members, academicians, parents, local government representatives and students among people from different walks of life presented tributes to the martyrs of APS and held their sacrifices in high esteem.

In this regard, member National Assembly Sardar Aurangzaib Nalota said the APS tragedy has united the nation in the fight against terrorism and militancy and paved the way for establishing durable peace in the country.

He said that as many as 152 persons, including 132 children, were martyred in the deadly terrorist attack on APS, adding that they were our sons and brothers and the whole nation stood with them.

Following the horrific terrorists' attack, he said the PML-N government had taken onboard all the political forces which unanimously chalked out a nationally agreed National Action Plan (NAP) to initiate a large scale crackdown against terrorists and extremists.

Terrorists who were prowling unchecked before 2013 were flushed out from their strongholds in rural and urban areas and those putting up resistance were silenced forever, owing to successful counter-terrorism operations by security forces.

The successful actions of the federal Government and law enforcement agencies under the NAP had provided the much needed relief to militancy-ridden people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata and have restored normalcy to the province, he maintained.

The government has raised the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in KP to counter terrorism on modern and scientific lines and the writ of the government has been restored, Nalota said.

Senior lawyer Kifayatullah Khan said that the APS incident would always give us courage, strength and a feeling of a moral win over the biggest enemies of Islam and Pakistan.

"Today is the ‘Black Day’ in the history of Pakistan as on this day the enemy had attacked on the future of Pakistan," he said.

The PML-N leader said the APS tragedy has drawn a clear line between elements of peace and bloodshed.

Nazim Bhadar Khan also paid glowing tributes to the APS martyrs, saying it was their sacrifices that brought peace to the country.

"The best tribute to the APS martyrs on this day is to continue untiring efforts against terrorism and promote education in the country," he remarked.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) former president Yousaf Sarwar also paid tributes to the APS martyrs, saying it was their sacrifices that investment back to the country after improvement of law and order situation.

Yousaf Sarwar said live nation turned such tragedies into their strength and go on fighting with greater zeal and more courageous determination.

"Today is the day that we should reiterate our commitment to continue efforts till complete elimination of terrorism from our land," he said.

The other speakers also paid rich tributes to the martyrs and said the sacrifices rendered by the students was a beacon of light for the upcoming generation to keep high the torch of education and peace for which the 142 students lost their lives three years ago.

Meanwhile, the third anniversary of the martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Warsak Road, Peshawar was held in Landi Kotal with pledge that every offense against citizens and the country would be foiled jointly.

In this connection, a gathering was organized under the auspices of local Christian community here in the Government Girls’ High Secondary School, in which, members and children of the participated.

Speaking on the occasion, elite of the community Kiran Kiramat said that the miscreants would not suppressed them by executing malpractices like APS and the new generation Pakistan would not be restrained of getting education.

“Peace has been restored in the country with precious sacrifices of security agencies and no will be permitted to sabotage it,” he added.

Candle vigilance session was initiated in which the participants lit candles to pay homage to the deceased and to express support to the effected families.

 

WAJIDULLAH