Rawalpindi - The students, teachers, traders, doctors, lawyers, members of civil society and people belonging to different walks of life vehemently condemned the terrorist attack on Army Public School and College in Peshawar and killing of more than 132 innocent students, teachers and security personnel on Tuesday. They demanded of the government to arrest the culprits involved in inhuman and barbaric incident and award them strict punishment.
On the occasion, Tehreek-e-Jawanan Pakistan announced three days mourning while all the business community on call of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) pledged to shut their business today (Wednesday) to express solidarity with families of the victims. All Pakistan Private School Management Association also announced holiday in all the private educational institutions on December 18 (Thursday).
TJP staged a protest demonstration outside Rawalpindi Press Club to denounce the terror attack on the APSC.
Led by TJP Chairman Abdullah Hamid Gull, the protestors were carrying placards and banners mentioning words against terrorism. They asked the government to arrest the perpetrators involved in the attack on school and bring them to task.
Anjuman Talba Islam (ATI) also strongly condemned the attack on the Peshawar school. ATI leader Shaheer Sialvi said that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had no relation with Islam and ATI was standing by Pakistan Army in its operations against militants.
“We strongly condemn the barbaric act of terrorism in Peshawar and pray for the departed souls to rest in heaven. May Allah Almighty give fortitude to the parents and relatives of the martyrs,” said Chaudhry Daud Khan, President SES Teachers Association Rawalpindi in a statement. He also asked the federal and provincial governments to provide foolproof security to educational institutions to avoid such terror incidents in future.
Young Doctors Association (YDA) also denounced the terrorist attack on school and asked the government to arrest the culprits who shed the blood of innocent students, teachers and security personnel. YDA office-bearer Dr Abbas Malik said, “We feel grieved at the sad demise of the children in Peshawar school. We equally feel the pain of the victim families and pray for the deceased. It is highly condemnable act of terrorism and the YDA community is infuriated on this act of barbarism.”
The traders and business community denounced the attack and demanded strong action against TTP. RCCI President Syed Asad Mashhadi announced close down of businesses on Thursday on the sad incident of Peshawar to show solidarity with aggrieved families. He said that all the markets, shopping centres and malls would also be remained closed.
The legal fraternity, while condemning terror attack on school, said that such coward attacks of the terrorists could not discourage the security personnel, and Pakistan Army would purge the tribal belt of terrorists. Azhar Hameed Advocate while talking to The Nation termed the Peshawar incident a barbaric act. He said that December 16 was the black day in the history of Pakistan. “I have no words to explain the gory incident in which terrorists martyred more than hundred students, teachers and Army jawans,” he said. He also expressed his sorrowful feelings with the victim families and prayed for the departed souls.
All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association registered its strong protest against brazen attack of Taliban. “We condemn the attack in strong words,” said APPSMA President Abrar Ahmed in a statement issued here. He said that all the private educational institutions would remain closed on December 18 (Thursday) to express solidarity with victim families.
Meanwhile, young and old alike thronged the hospitals to donate blood for Peshawar victims. Jawad Muhammad Nazir, a resident of Chaklala Scheme III, along with his friends and relatives donated blood and dispatched 45 bags of various groups to Peshawar. Some people donated blood and took the blood bags to Peshawar in their personal vehicles. Dozens of bags of O-negative blood were collected at Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion of Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil was held at GHQ Square where the participants prayed for departed souls and victim families.