Homage paid to APS martyrs

Schools, colleges, civil society hold ceremonies

ISLAMABAD: Many schools across the twin cities held Rawalpindi ceremonies to marking the fourth anniversary of carnage at Army Public School (APS) Peshawar which resulted in the death of 140 people with most of them being students.

Army Heritage Foundation (AHF) organised an event at the APS Chowk in Ayub National Park. Students from various schools across the city laid flowers on the martyrs’ memorial and sang national songs in remembrance of the victims.

AHF Director General Zaman Nasarullah Khan Niazi paid tribute to the martyrs of APS and said the light of knowledge would remain burnt due to the huge sacrifice of the APS students.

Federal Government (FG) Quaid-i-Azam Junior Model School children presented tableaus reenacting the APS incident. Speaking to The Express Tribune, the students including Rehan and Wania said that everything was incomplete without education. They expressed that the APS was still educating people despite the coward attack. Principal Shabana Hameed said the day would be remembered forever in the history of the country.

Participants of the event at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) observed a minute’s silence in remembrance of the APS victims.

FJWU VC Dr Saima Hameed said the nation would never forget martyrs of APS.

Eden High School in Khayaban-e-Sir Syed invited APS survivor Ameen Jan as the chief guest. Jan along with other students offered special prayers and lit candles in the memory of the deceased.

Jan said that no terrorist in the world could deprive children of an education. Principal Muhammad Raifque Qureshi said that everybody including the children, police, army and common people have contributed in war against terrorism.

Civil society protest

The members of the Youth Parliament and Civil Society staged a protest outside National Press Club against APS carnage.

The protest was attended by renowned political and social activists. The participants observed a candlelight vigil and remembered the victims.

PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said the culprits behind the APS massacre had not been brought to justice so far.

The renowned Social activist Amna Masood Janjua declared it a dreadful incident and expressed that its wounds could never be healed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2019.