40 days on: Families, political forces observe chehlum of APS students

Senior leaders say govt, army must take advantage of spirit of unity

PESHAWAR:

Forty days after the devastating Army Public School (APS) massacre, families of the slain children and various political leaders from within and outside the province observed chehlum on Sunday. Holding various events to mark the 40th day after the brutal assault, they said it was a good omen that all politico-religious forces were ready to fight the scourge of terrorism.

Earlier, the provincial government drew some criticism when it observed the occasion on the 35th day after the attack on Tuesday last week instead of waiting for the 40 days to be completed.

Senior Awami National Party (ANP) leaders, including central vice president Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Bushra Gohar, Sitara Ayaz, Shugfta Malik and others, attended a ceremony to mark the occasion at Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar.

The emerging consensus to defeat terrorism should be maintained at every cost, said Bilour. He said the battle against terror was in fact a war for Pakistan’s survival.

“Political forces and the government must maintain this unity,” asserted Bilour. However, he said, if the rulers had only paid heed to ANP leaders earlier, Pakistan would not have seen such a tragic day.

ANP General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the sacrifices of APS students could never be forgotten. History would not forgive the civilian and military leaderships if they failed to take advantage of the country’s united front against militancy, he added. “They will be recorded as criminals in the nation’s history,” said Hussain.

He asked leaders to stop beating about the bush and unite as terrorism was the country’s foremost problem. “Now is the time to uproot this menace,” said Hussain.



“Terrorists are now joining Daish or Islamic State (IS) for the sake of the money”. He added banned outfits were changing names and continuing their activity, while several militant organisations were functioning in the name of social work. Hussain demanded that the government immediately take action against such outfits.

The senior ANP leader slammed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led coalition government for observing the chehlum 35 days after the APS attack instead of 40. “The government did not even let this chance go to score some political points.”

He demanded authorities pay compensation to the families of the wounded students and send those children who require treatment aboard. The participants held a Quran khawani for the victims and laid floral wreaths in memory of the schoolchildren.

Better coordination

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders on Sunday called for better coordination between the K-P government and the Centre to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Addressing people gathered at Peshawar Press Club to observe the chehlum of APS victims, senior central MQM leader Farooq Sattar, Rashid Godil and MQM K-P President Barrister Saif agreed the Taliban’s massacre of innocent children united the nation against terrorism and militancy. Sattar added the nation would not rest till terrorism was eliminated from the country.

“This is one of the most horrific tragedies in human history,” he said.

Grant for injured APS students

The chehlum of APS student Haris Nawaz was observed at his residence in Zaryab Colony, Faqirabad No2 on Sunday and was attended by ministers from K-P and Punjab.

K-P Minister for Minerals Ziaullah Afridi and Punjab Minister for Minerals Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan offered fateha and expressed their sympathies for the bereaved family.

A handout issued on Sunday quoted Afridi as saying the provincial government set aside Rs3.5 million as an initial grant for the treatment of injured APS students. He said the government would bear the expenditure of those children who need to be sent abroad for treatment.

Afridi added a committee comprising him and Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani would overlook the treatment grant.

Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan said he came to Peshawar on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to express their solidarity with the bereaved. He said that nation was committed to wiping out all kinds of terrorism.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2015.