KARACHI: Terrorists took away the lives of over 130 children at the Army Public School in Peshawar on Tuesday. Their cowardly actions, however, failed to break the human spirit. The condemnations, vigils and various expressions of solidarity across the country are a testament to the people’s resolve to stand united, especially in the face of such adversity.
In Karachi, thousands of people from different walks of life, irrespective of their religious or political affiliations, gathered outside Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Wednesday to express solidarity with the victims and the bereaved families.
With gloomy looks and teary eyes, the participants of the rally expressed heartfelt condolences for the mothers of the young martyrs. “The ones who were killed yesterday were my brothers too,” said Sajal Baloch.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), whose representatives were present at the rally, has termed the incident a national tragedy of immense proportion and described it as the saddest day in Pakistan’s history. The commission’s vice-chairperson, Asad Iqbal Butt, said: “How can anyone be so cruel to kill innocent children?”
Members of the Pakistan Hindu Seva (PHS) Welfare Association and the Shri Maharashtra Panchayat also voiced their protest. PHS president Sajesh Dhanja was of the belief that the Taliban and Pakistan could not coexist and anyone still harbouring any notions to the contrary was immature.
Also present at the rally were members of the Pakistan Street Footballers team. The team members were joined by children and students of various institutions as they lit candles and observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the deceased.
Meanwhile, activists and supporters of the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), accompanied by their children, gathered outside KPC to pay homage to the victims. “Neither in Islam nor in Pakhtunwali [Pukhtoon code of conduct] is this brutal attack justifiable,” said Sikandar Khan, the senior vice-president of PkMAP Sindh. “There is no such example in the history of mankind where school-going children are killed in such an organised way.”
Meanwhile, employees of the Admore oil marketing company held a vigil at Sea View in remembrance of victims of the massacre.
Lawmakers pray for the departed
The lawmakers of the Sindh Assembly offered funeral prayers in absentia for the martyrs of Peshawar incident at the assembly’s premises on Wednesday. The MPAs belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement attended the funeral.
Police pay tribute to martyrs
Funeral prayers in absentia were also offered at the Central Police Office, Karachi, and were attended by a large number of police officials.
After the funeral prayers, Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali said that a special plan to boost the security of schools, educational institutions and sensitive installations across the province was being prepared and will be implemented soon.
Meanwhile, the lawyers’ fraternity in Karachi abstained from court proceedings on Wednesday to protest the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.
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