PESHAWAR:
Shabana Shahid is unable to control her tears as she recalls the harrowing images she saw during the Taliban’s siege of Army Public School (APS). The horrific memories are permanently etched in her mind.
“I saw schoolchildren with bullet injuries calling out for help in agony,” recalled Shabana as she spoke to The Express Tribune outside the ill-fated school.
According to Shabana, who has been teaching at APS for the past several years, she was teaching a Math lesson to grade six when the militants entered the building and opened fire.
“As soon as I heard firing and cries from outside, I told my students to lie down on the ground and be very still,” said Shabana, adding she closed the classroom door and switched the lights off.
They remained hidden from sight for more than two hours before they could be rescued. Shabana said the armed forces reached the classroom and evacuated them while cordoning off the area where the militants were holding other teachers and students hostage.
“We could hear firing and cries throughout our stay in that room,” she said. The teacher termed the militant attack the worst, most brutal and inhumane act which has left hundreds of people emotionally and mentally scarred.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.
COMMENTS (15)
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Presence of mind!
@Fawad Gilani: He is Pakistan Khan. He is still among his people. Who told you he went to London?
@anon: Looks like you are not grown up. What if some terrorists enter your house, would you stay still like a statue or do "something" to protect yourself? I am sure even if you are 100 % sure you would be killed, you would CERTAINLY think about "how" you could save yourself. Arsalaan is only trying to explain this. Do you understand now?
Please Mr. Imran Khan. Spend some time in Peshawar and not London to help KPK rebuild from this tragedy.
we want revenge of every single drop of blood of our children this is the voice of nation
we want revenge of every single drop of blood of our children this is the voice of nation revenge revenge revenge revenge
teacher are for life if they save life they are hero like lady teacher in peshwar, great mother great teacher
@Arsalaan Haleem: Survival techniques when you have a gun pointing at you? Could you please kindly explain how and the let the whole country learn from you.
She deserved to be awarded the highest medal
Pakistani teachers have the job of moulding the future of Pakistan. No wonder they are willing to and have given their lives for the future generations. Their job is as important as the army's.
We salute every kid either martyred,injured or just listening the cries of other brothers,sisters and street fellows there. That would must be very tough decision for u madam. May ALLAH gives u power to get strong after this.
Allah Almighty has guided you into doing the right thing that you did. You are truly a brave and focussed lady. Those two hours must have been like two hundred years. If a human being could, then he/she would save all the innocent children being massacred in the world today. Salams
We SALUTE you MADAM. You are our true soldier and hero.
It is about time that our teachers & students should be taught survival techniques, given that we are living in the worst period of our lives.