'They attacked us with guns but we will reply with the pen'

APS attack survivor Waleed Khan's spirit remains unbroken despite harrowing ordeal

They say the human spirit can outlast any kind of adversity and such is the case of Waleed Khan, one of the survivors of the horrific 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar.

Waleed sustained eight bullet wounds in the tragic attack in which at least 144 people, mostly students, were martyred as terrorists stormed the premises of the APS Peshawar campus.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

His injuries caused massive facial disfigurement and 13 surgeries later, Waleed has pledged to never bow down to terrorist elements and to take the fight against the menace till the very end.

He is currently hospitalised in London and is set to undergo seven more facial reconstruction operations.

Remembering APS: A trauma Peshawar simply cannot move past

"Those who we lost on that fateful day will never be forgotten. I will continue to work for education in Pakistan and I hope my courage can serve as an example for others," he said in a video message on the fifth anniversary of the APS attack.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

He also lauded the Pakistan Army's sacrifices for the nation, saying, "The efforts of the army and other institutions will not be in vain."

Waleed said Pakistan would emerge victorious in its war on terror as the entire nation stands united.

"They attacked us with guns but we will reply with the pen. In the end, I would like to say to my nation that we can never give up and must face them with courage. The day is not far when Pakistan will be a completely peaceful country," said the APS attack survivor.

PHOTO: EXPRESS